http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: SKELF - Work Day (HELP NEEDED) en Sun, 17 May 2026 19:48:22 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063&page=2#post-254212 Sat, 01 Jul 2017 10:17:39 +0000 chdot 254212@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just started.</p> <p>Can you manage an hour TODAY? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063&page=2#post-253941 Wed, 28 Jun 2017 19:56:59 +0000 chdot 253941@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Help Build the SKELF's Mini Pump Track!</p> <p>And more exciting news for the weekend. Following a pretty damn positive response to our last post about building a mini pump track at the Skelf, our next volunteer dig day will be this Saturday, the 1st of July, from 10 am till 4pm!</p> <p>We hope to finish laying out the basic shape of the track &amp; level off the whole track base, before starting to think about where to put the rollers etc...</p> <p>For all those keen to support the younger or less confident riders, or who've just been loving the place and and would like to help make it even better, come along &amp; get stuck in!</p> <p>PS: The forecast is dry &amp; sunny (off and on) all day too, so hopefully see you Saturday!</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063&page=2#post-231447 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:17:43 +0000 ih 231447@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good to see justice minister supporting Skelf and riding without a helmet. I did think helmeted Adam McVey looked a bit contrived on the Rosslyn Chapel thread wibbling along at 2 mph between Lesley and ,.. someone else. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063&page=2#post-231439 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:15:34 +0000 crowriver 231439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Seat a bit high"</p> <p>Aye there's not much bend in that right knee! Good that he did it though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063&page=2#post-231435 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:53:01 +0000 chdot 231435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>He wasn't given the option. Owner of that bike doesn't wear one!</p> <p>Minder said in advance he wouldn't be getting on a bike. Someone (not me) persuaded him.</p> <p>Seat a bit high, but he did it willingly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-231432 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:39:26 +0000 fimm 231432@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I guess it says something about, well, something when the first thing I notice is what he is (or in this case isn't) wearing on his head... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-231425 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:10:37 +0000 chdot 231425@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/ScotgovJustice/status/778537882193686528" rel="nofollow">https://mobile.twitter.com/ScotgovJustice/status/778537882193686528</a></p> <p>He even got on a bike (against the advice of his 'minders')</p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8006/29718039392_5d4140f512.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-231069 Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:21:11 +0000 chdot 231069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p> list of things it would be great to get people working on on Sunday (probably in order of priority):</p> <p>Weed around the newly planted trees in the bank above the path &amp; fruit trees down the hill<br /> Remove all undergrowth/bushes from either side of existing path entry to PT (LHS of new path probably the priority)</p> <p>Clear out/remove brambles/bushes/seedlings from area around old steps up onto rocky nobble at S end of woods</p> <p>Brown St rocky outcrop - Totally remove all brambles/seedlings/grass and ideally topsoil from rock outcrop</p> <p>Rake/tidy/level/remove wee stones from 'viewing area banks on either side of HM steps, make sure seating boulders are stable</p> <p>Litter pick/needle sweep at bottom, Dumbiedykes end of woods (Loop 3)</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-231031 Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:09:44 +0000 kaputnik 231031@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The site is fair coming along, but I hope the 2large boulders they've dumped at the top of the hill are a temporar thing. They're very obstructive for passage of prams, bikes etc. and I dare say wheelchairs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-231003 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:15:01 +0000 chdot 231003@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8048/29097446534_860537df96.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-230385 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 12:01:10 +0000 gembo 230385@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good to see this waste ground finally being put to good use </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-230383 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 11:46:56 +0000 chdot 230383@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Work proceeding well. Photos from yesterday and previous week.</p> <p>May be another volunteer session at w/e.</p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8313/28803401543_b9b9f582d9.jpg"></p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8770/28803401183_392bb3d207.jpg"></p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8375/29476116242_93cf6c30d7.jpg"></p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8139/29552036546_21042c6292.jpg"></p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8335/28960597564_3e517f6a60.jpg"></p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8033/28962667433_e082fa9909.jpg"></p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8055/29295853100_e9a43bf0cf.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-217581 Sat, 23 Apr 2016 23:30:46 +0000 chdot 217581@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another session tomorrow (Sunday) from 10.</p> <p>They are looking for rakes! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213120 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 10:38:44 +0000 Morningsider 213120@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I rolled past the SKELF site this morning and it looked like a good amount of work had been done over the weekend. Very tidy work site. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213087 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 12:24:47 +0000 gembo 213087@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Classic, Cockburn assoc. hire swampy to live in a tree, pastor Jack glass then comes back from the dead and chains himself to the remaining trees ( he did this when Jean Paul II was coming to Glasgow and his pope mobile was too wide for the path in bellahouston park so they had to cut down some trees. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213082 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 11:12:23 +0000 Rob 213082@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How did the remaining clearing go yesterday? Did Swampy turn up? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213081 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 10:12:11 +0000 PS 213081@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Presumably the Cockburn Association machine swung into action as soon as it heard about a situation with the heady mix of the Council and Change to the urban environment. We're just lucky that the Skelf site isn't in the world heritage site or UNESCO would be getting dragged into this as well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213060 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:38:05 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 213060@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Actually I'm confused. Who exactly is opposing this? The Cockburn Ass text says "A local resident wrote to us..." - so is this just one person? Or is the Cockburn actively against it (and not just giving space to the resident's letter)? And how come the Cockburn as prominent, active and experienced group wasn't aware of it (or were they)? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213058 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:32:02 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 213058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"(1) how can councils do a better job of informing local people/getting them to engage with consultations"</p> <p>Who are the local people? I don't think the community councils work well, at least not in my area, and there is a question how much power unelected and/or non-representative groups should have....</p> <p>"(2) how on earth cN people be do oblivious to stuff going on/proposed /consulted on in their neighbourhoods?"</p> <p>It just occurs to me that I often see planning application notices pinned to lampposts and then, on the bicycle, I stop and have a look if this is something relevant. Drivers may not see the notices and even if they do, they can't stop so easily... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213056 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:28:46 +0000 gembo 213056@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thirdly, why cause such a furore after the fact. What do they want? The trees can't be put back.</p> <p>When you said a bike skills track we didn't realise you would clear the area so we would have to pick up our dog poo? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213053 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:20:07 +0000 SRD 213053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bigger issue seems to be either (1) how can councils do a better job of informing local people/getting them to engage with consultations OR (2) how on earth cN people be do oblivious to stuff going on/proposed /consulted on in their neighbourhoods? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213050 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:09:46 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 213050@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have to admit I don't care much about bike skill tracks specifically, but it's good to install some activity in such urban wastelands that can attract a variety of people, especially families.</p> <p>I don't live nearby but cycle through quite regularly as the path between Dumbiedykes Rd and St Leonards is a good connection between Holyrood and the Innocent (I have to push uphills though...). The "community garden" description in the Cockburn Ass letter sounds wrong to me, it seems more like a wasteland with generous fly tipping, and at certain times it's always a bit scary. I don't see that many people and most just seem to try to get up/down the path as quickly as possible (as do I).</p> <p>I don't think you can stop fly tipping and antisocial behaviour in green spaces in an urban setting so easily unless you do something to attract many different people to the area to create some social control. It's a mistake to think you can just do a cleanup and then it's nice, this doesn't really work if the green space then isn't used. </p> <p>So it's great that something is done to improve the area permanently, and <a href="http://theskelf.org.uk/the-site/">looking at the plans</a> it also looks as if a bike skill track will fit well into the existing woodland most of which will be preserved but become more accessible. </p> <p>Short version: I dunno why the Cockburn Ass has a problem. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213045 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:57:22 +0000 gembo 213045@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Didn't look like many trees left? As with the roseburn shops being about illegal parking this is about dog walkers being able to let their mutts shalala in the woods. </p> <p>Nearly thirty years back I used to like walking around dumbiedykes, the DIY store, the park and for a bit of variet the wasteland that will be skelf. The place was however very muddy and strewn with rubbish. We rarely saw another soul on our Sunday saunters but perhaps it changed? Or perhaps as it was never getting used ever the council gave it to skelf to regenerate? Not sure but there might be some adjacent green space called holyrood park but hanging offence to let your dog shalala there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213044 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:33:26 +0000 Morningsider 213044@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A Council can't "recall" a planning application. It can revoke or modify a planning permission (Section 65 Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997) - but this power is literally never used, as the Council has to pay compensation for abortive expenditure and would likely lose any judicial review of the decision - unless there were very strong grounds for changing their mind.</p> <p>As for the current midden being a garden (home to a rare species of syringe flower and the greater spotted manky mattress) or the only green space in the area - it's sort of hard to know what to say.</p> <p>Finally - can you have a densely populated residential green space? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-213042 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 20:10:11 +0000 SRD 213042@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From Cockburn association Facebook: </p> <p>Breaking News: Please help STOP THE CHOP </p> <p> A local resident has written to CEC:</p> <p>"We ask that you urgently recall Edinburgh Council planning permission 15/00557/FUL in order to review the viability of having a mountain bike park in such a densely populated residential green space. this is the area between Dumbiedykes up to St Leonards using up the tiny bit of green space that the community rely on as our garden.</p> <p>SKELF plan to chop down our remaining trees on Saturday 27th February. </p> <p>Please stop the tree felling until a full consultation takes place with the community. "</p> <p>If you feel concerned by the removal of trees along this strip of land then please respond to the call for action... locals will be on site tomorrow, Saturday 27 February, to try to prevent any further damage and open up a dialogue between the community and the Council. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-212888 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:39:58 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 212888@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"petition against" </p> <p>I'm going to start a petition against unnecessary petitions... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-212887 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:34:35 +0000 SRD 212887@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>that's so depressing. it's a total wasteland at the moment.</p> <p>i'm not altogether surprised though </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-212882 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:17:36 +0000 friskiffla 212882@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the pub last night I spotted a petition against the SKELF. I don't think it was there when I was last in two weeks ago, so maybe a reaction to the work that has recently been done. Their main gripe seemed to be 1) the removal of trees/appropriation of 'Our Green Space' and 2) the (perceived) lack of proper consultation. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-212632 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 16:22:04 +0000 chdot 212632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Looks good. </p> <p>Going to be a great 'cycling' asset - esp for young people. </p> <p>It may be 'sport' or 'activity', but it will be people riding bikes - and learning skills/confidence that will be useful for 'transport' riding. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16063#post-212629 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 15:57:47 +0000 LaidBack 212629@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Link to site.<br /> <a href="http://theskelf.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://theskelf.org.uk/</a></p> <p>I only managed an hour but good to see such progress. Lots of wood if you can legally use a wood burning stove.</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/EmedPx"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1474/25170466685_798e67f0a6.jpg"></a><a href="https://flic.kr/p/EmedPx">SKELF Bike Park - first clearance</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/66067108@N08/">LaidBackBikes</a>, on Flickr </p>