Correspondence about the bus route changes rolls on

It now seems clear, from the many responses sent back in via this website, and FaceBook,  ‘I Love Leith’ etc. that NOBODY in fact received a leaflet about the bus route changes. We must have misinterpreted what Lothian Buses meant when they said they had “reached out” to “approx 22K households” in the area. Apologies for any confusion caused!

We wrote to Lothian Buses to request further clarification about what precisely their “reaching out” consisted of – see our latest email below. However from the reply we received, it appears that Lothian buses are not going to explain what exactly they did to reach out and inform local people, other than that they “took steps”.

They seem to be encouraging communication through elected Councillors (and in saying so, seem perhaps to not be keen to keep talking to us as a Community Council???). Well, you are all free to write to Councillors as individuals of course and you can find those contacts here. But please be assured that this CC will continue to liaise with the local community, with our elected Councillors AND with Lothian Buses.

We believe that our correspondence to date has not been disrespectful (although, inevitably, some frustration has shown through), and we feel that we are being constructive in offering to work with LB on monitoring and evaluating the new bus services over the next few months. We feel that it is the role of Communications Director of Lothian Buses to be ‘professional’, rather than demanding this from members of the local community and CC volunteers (who are by definition not professional).

27 September

To Leith Links Community Council from Lothian Buses

Thank you for your further email.

We appreciate all that you say and note your feedback accordingly. 

While Lothian took steps to try to ensure that information on the change was communicated widely – we thank you for your support in displaying the information leaflet on Leith Community Council website.  

Please be assured that Lothian strive to be a part of the communities we serve and we are sorry if the changes have caused concern amongst some in the community.  Our previous correspondence detailed both operational feasibility and commercial rationale for the changes and I can advise that it is now our intent to allow for a period of settlement during which we will keep the situation under review.   

In terms of wider community contribution we would in the first instance, encourage the feedback of common themes through City Of Edinburgh Council elected representatives with whom Lothian liaise accordingly.  

Gaynor Marshall

Communications Director

Lothian Buses

***

23 September

To: Lothian Buses from Leith Links Community Council

Dear Ms Marshall

Thank you for your most recent message.

I wonder if I could ask for clarification?

You say “We appreciate that some of our customers are unable to access our digital platforms and so in addition to bus stop information being refreshed to reflect the changes we reached out to approx. 22K households (in the EH6 6. EH6 7, EH6 8, EH7 6) areas with detailed information on Monday 12 September and Tuesday 13 September.”

May I ask you to clarify exactly what “reached out…to..households” means? On a first reading, we understood you to mean that you had leaflets delivered through the door of 22K households. However, this does not seem to be the case. Have we misunderstood you? Did you reach out in another way, and if so, can you explain precisely what form this took?

*

We understand that the period since the Queen’s passing has, unexpectedly, been a very demanding period for Lothian Buses across the city and that it may take a while before things get back to ‘normal’, so we do not wish to be overly demanding. However, we would like to reiterate our request / invitation to meet with someone representing LB at some point soon, to discuss constructive ways in which we (i.e. the community council, as members of the local community and representing the local community) can collaborate and work with you and help to monitor the new services over the next few months, as you have stated you intend to do. You will obviously have access to passenger numbers and other objective data. And presumably, reports from drivers. We have access to ‘soft data’ in the form of the views of passengers as to how well the services are functioning, and meeting peoples’ needs, any important needs that are not being met, and so on.

Thank You

Sally Millar

Secy, Leith Links Community Council

_____________________________________________

Leith Links Community Council received the following message from Lothian Buses, in response to our earlier email correspondence.

16.09.22

From: Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director, Lothian Buses

Thank you for your further email.  All comments and feedback are duly noted.

In terms of our communicating the change I can advise that information was published in advance of the changes on 11th September.  We appreciate that some of our customers are unable to access our digital platforms and so in addition to bus stop information being refreshed to reflect the changes we reached out to approx. 22K households (in the EH6 6. EH6 7, EH6 8, EH7 6) areas with detailed information on Monday 12 September and Tuesday 13 September.

Attached is a copy for your reference – it may be helpful for you to host it on LCC website. 

I can also confirm that all decisions were made with the information available at the time following dialogue with colleagues at CEC (TTN).  

The changes that came into place on 11th September will be monitored over the next few months with our immediate priority being stabilising the longer term commercial viability of the network and subsequent economic recovery of our business.

In terms of your further comments I refer you back to all previous communication which has provided our rationale and reasoning underpinned by commercial data and operational feasibility.    

In closing I would add that Lothian strive to deliver for customers in continuing exceptionally challenging circumstances.  We pride ourselves in being a part of the communities we serve and we will only endeavour to engage in meaningful and relevant dialogue when conducted in a professional and constructive manner.

Kind regards

Gaynor Marshall
Communications Director, Lothian Buses

***

We will be responding in due course.

In the meanwhile, we would be interested –

  1. to know more about the leaflets. Please can you let us know if you got a leaflet through your door (or if you didn’t, but you think you should have, as you live along the bus routes). It would help if you added your street name and/or postcode.
  2.  to hear more about your experiences with the new bus routes. Last week was highly untypical, but starting from this week – how is it going for you, so far?

Please write a comment below or email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

The bus saga –

It seems clear by now, from the many responses sent back in via this website, and FaceBook,  ‘I Love Leith’ etc. that NOBODY received a leaflet about the bus route changes. A mystery.

So this is the latest message that Leith Links Community Council has sent to Lothian Buses. We are still awaiting a reply.

23 September

To: Lothian Buses

Dear Ms Marshall

Thank you for your most recent message.

I wonder if I could ask for clarification?

You say “We appreciate that some of our customers are unable to access our digital platforms and so in addition to bus stop information being refreshed to reflect the changes we reached out to approx. 22K households (in the EH6 6. EH6 7, EH6 8, EH7 6) areas with detailed information on Monday 12 September and Tuesday 13 September.”

May I ask you to clarify exactly what “reached out…to..households” means? On a first reading, we understood you to mean that you had leaflets delivered through the door of 22K households. However, this does not seem to be the case. Have we misunderstood you? Did you reach out in another way, and if so, can you explain precisely what form this took?

*

We understand that the period since the Queen’s passing has, unexpectedly, been a very demanding period for Lothian Buses across the city and that it may take a while before things get back to ‘normal’, so we do not wish to be overly demanding. However, we would like to reiterate our request / invitation to meet with someone representing LB at some point soon, to discuss constructive ways in which we (i.e. the community council, as members of the local community and representing the local community) can collaborate and work with you and help to monitor the new services over the next few months, as you have stated you intend to do. You will obviously have access to passenger numbers and other objective data. And presumably, reports from drivers. We have access to ‘soft data’ in the form of the views of passengers as to how well the services are functioning, and meeting peoples’ needs, any important needs that are not being met, and so on.

Thank You

Sally Millar

Secy, Leith Links Community Council

_____________________________________________

Leith Links Community Council received the following message from Lothian Buses, in response to our earlier email correspondence.

16.09.22

From: Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director, Lothian Buses

Thank you for your further email.  All comments and feedback are duly noted.

In terms of our communicating the change I can advise that information was published in advance of the changes on 11th September.  We appreciate that some of our customers are unable to access our digital platforms and so in addition to bus stop information being refreshed to reflect the changes we reached out to approx. 22K households (in the EH6 6. EH6 7, EH6 8, EH7 6) areas with detailed information on Monday 12 September and Tuesday 13 September.

Attached is a copy for your reference – it may be helpful for you to host it on LCC website. 

I can also confirm that all decisions were made with the information available at the time following dialogue with colleagues at CEC (TTN).  

The changes that came into place on 11th September will be monitored over the next few months with our immediate priority being stabilising the longer term commercial viability of the network and subsequent economic recovery of our business.

In terms of your further comments I refer you back to all previous communication which has provided our rationale and reasoning underpinned by commercial data and operational feasibility.    

In closing I would add that Lothian strive to deliver for customers in continuing exceptionally challenging circumstances.  We pride ourselves in being a part of the communities we serve and we will only endeavour to engage in meaningful and relevant dialogue when conducted in a professional and constructive manner.

Kind regards

Gaynor Marshall
Communications Director, Lothian Buses

***

We will be responding in due course.

In the meanwhile, we would be interested –

  1. to know more about the leaflets. Please can you let us know if you got a leaflet through your door (or if you didn’t, but you think you should have, as you live along the bus routes). It would help if you added your street name and/or postcode.
  2.  to hear more about your experiences with the new bus routes. Last week was highly untypical, but starting from this week – how is it going for you, so far?

Please write a comment below or email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

More about Buses

Leith Links Community Council has just received the following message from Lothian Buses, in response to our earlier email correspondence.

16.09.22

From: Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director, Lothian Buses

Thank you for your further email.  All comments and feedback are duly noted.

In terms of our communicating the change I can advise that information was published in advance of the changes on 11th September.  We appreciate that some of our customers are unable to access our digital platforms and so in addition to bus stop information being refreshed to reflect the changes we reached out to approx. 22K households (in the EH6 6. EH6 7, EH6 8, EH7 6) areas with detailed information on Monday 12 September and Tuesday 13 September.

Attached is a copy for your reference – it may be helpful for you to host it on LCC website. 

I can also confirm that all decisions were made with the information available at the time following dialogue with colleagues at CEC (TTN).  

The changes that came into place on 11th September will be monitored over the next few months with our immediate priority being stabilising the longer term commercial viability of the network and subsequent economic recovery of our business.

In terms of your further comments I refer you back to all previous communication which has provided our rationale and reasoning underpinned by commercial data and operational feasibility.    

In closing I would add that Lothian strive to deliver for customers in continuing exceptionally challenging circumstances.  We pride ourselves in being a part of the communities we serve and we will only endeavour to engage in meaningful and relevant dialogue when conducted in a professional and constructive manner.

Kind regards

Gaynor Marshall
Communications Director, Lothian Buses

***

We will be responding in due course.

In the meanwhile, we would be interested –

  1. to know more about the leaflets. Please can you let us know if you got a leaflet through your door (or if you didn’t, but you think you should have, as you live along the bus routes). It would help if you added your street name and/or postcode.
  2.  to hear more about your experiences with the new bus routes. Last week was highly untypical, but starting from this week – how is it going for you, so far?

Please write a comment below or email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

Buses at Leith Links

Monday 12th September – Due to the momentous events today, causing massive traffic congestion,  buses are being delayed all throughout the city.

We have so far still not been able to meet with Lothian Buses to discuss our local bus route changes, but have continued to press for a meeting. UPDATE – new Managing Director Sarah Boyd has now been in touch to indicate that a conversation may be possible next week sometime, after this period of exceptional transport arrangements, in which Lothian is heavily involved of course, surrounding the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

What we know –

  1. The changes did start on Sunday 11th September  – i.e. the 25 and 21 using Lochend Road, and the 34 and 49 using Restalrig Road. The bus stops reflect this change and provide some basic paper-based information.
  2. For the moment, the 34 will go from Restalrig Road to Ocean Terminal (and same route coming back from OT into town) via Links Gardens, Salamander Place, Baltic Street, Bernard Street, Commercial Street.

See https://www.lothianbuses.com/live-travel-info/service-update/?alert_id=22a9ec20a664161cd55de74b43ab75f9

Apparently Lothian Buses DID NOT CHECK with Trams to Newhaven that the route they wanted to use, i.e. Constitution Street and Queen Charlotte Street, would be open for traffic on 11th September. (Of course, those of us who live here always knew it would not be ready.) In our view, this reflects a shocking lack of coordination between key transport operators (and overseers) in our city.

The Salamander Place route will be used until Constitution Street is available, which Trams to Newhaven tell us may be some weeks away.

Since congestion on Baltic Street (& Bernard Street, Commercial Street) is already horrendous, and the road surface in Salamander Place is in extremely poor condition (understatement!), passengers are in for a slow and bumpy ride. We also feel that the junction at the top of Salamander Place, turning in and out of Links Gardens, is potentially problematical, even dangerous.

So how’s it going so far? One day into the new service, we’ve seen buses letting passengers off on Links Gardens (presumably because the bus stops at the top of Salamander Place are awkwardly placed), and several occasions of buses stopped at the junction, ‘negotiating’ with other drivers as to who would go first through the narrowed turn. And the poor lollipop man at this junction has seen his job suddenly get a lot more complicated!

We’ve also seen at least one No, 21 sail on down Restalrig Road as previously, instead of crossing into Sleigh Drive, much to the distress of passengers waiting to board the new service along Lochend Road, who had a very long wait for the next bus. Was the driver not told about the change?

And we have received a number of emails from members of the local community finding the changes difficult.

We would be grateful to hear from any of you (in the comments below) of any problems you experience or observe in that area, and/or photos, so that we can pass these on to Lothian Buses (in Comments, below, or send to contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk).

You can read the entire correspondence here (start from the bottom and read upwards, to get correct order) between Leith Links Community Council and Lothian Buses. All correspondence has been copied to our Leith Ward Councillors, and Craigentinny / Duddingston, and to the Convenor of the Transport and Environment Committee.

Bus Update

We are disappointed to report that Lothian Buses have so far not agreed to meet with us to discuss the fast approaching bus route changes, but we continue to press for a meeting. Lothian buses have so far merely referred us to their website, which we think is pretty dismissive.

We have learned  – and feel it is important to pass on to the local community:

  1. The changes will go ahead as of Sunday 11th September  – i.e. the 25 and 21 will use Lochend Road, and the 34 and 49 will use Restalrig Road. The bus stops reflect this change.
  2. For the moment, the 34 will go from Restalrig Road to Ocean Terminal (and same route coming back from OT into town) via Links Gardens, Salamander Place, Baltic Street.

See https://www.lothianbuses.com/live-travel-info/service-update/?alert_id=22a9ec20a664161cd55de74b43ab75f9

We have been told that Lothian Buses DID NOT CHECK with Trams to Newhaven that the route they wanted to use, i.e. Constitution Street and Queen Charlotte Street, would be open for traffic on 11th September. (Of course, those of us who live here always knew it was not). In our view, this reflects a shocking lack of coordination between key transport operators (and overseers) in our city.

The Salamander Place route will be used until Constitution Street is available, which Trams to Newhaven tell us may be some weeks away.

Since congestion on Baltic Street is already horrendous, and the road surface in Salamander Place is in extremely poor condition (understatement!), we fear that passengers are in for a slow and bumpy ride. We also feel that the junction at the top of Salamander Place, turning in and out of Links Gardens, is potentially problematical, even dangerous. So we would be grateful to hear from any of you (in the comments below) of any problems you experience or observe in that area, and/or photos, so that we can pass these on to Lothian Buses (in Comments, below, or send to contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk).

You can read the entire correspondence here (start from the bottom and read upwards, to get correct order) between Leith Links Community Council and Lothian Buses. All correspondence has been copied to our Leith Ward Councillors, and Craigentinny / Duddingston, and to the Convenor of the Transport and Environment Committee. No written response so far from any of them, although there were supportive comments made orally from Leith Councillors at our recent Community Council meeting.

 

Reply from Lothian Buses

It appears that Lothian Buses will not take up our invitation to attend tonight’s Community Council meeting. Discussion of the matter will remain on the agenda however, as we continue to collect the views of the local community on the bus route changes. If you wish to attend the meeting, please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk to get the link.

We have however today received the following letter, in response to the letter we sent last week (see below). Please feel free to add any comments you may have below, and we will collect these and forward to Lothian in due course.

29.08.22

From from Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director of Lothian Buses

Thank you for taking the time to write to Lothian.

As we recover from the impact of the pandemic, we acknowledge that there have been fundamental shifts in societal working trends and corresponding shifts in travel patterns. It is critical that Lothian continue to review and adapt your bus network to reflect current travel habits, match supply and demand and maintain commercially viable services to allow us to deliver a service for all of our customers.

As we move toward the cessation of Scottish Government financial support in the autumn it is vital that we stabilise our network and form a solid foundation on which to base our next steps in economic recovery.  With these challenges in mind,  it might be helpful for us to provide some background around the process for the changes in Lochend, Restalrig and Leith Links.

With regard to Leith Links, the situation back in November 2019 was that the 12 had been diverted away from Leith Links due to the closure of Constitution Street as part of the tram project construction.  This left service 1 which had been operating a one way loop via the Links since the removal of the roundabout at the foot of Easter Road.  As part of the next round of closures in the Leith area that were planned to be put in place from Spring 2020 most bus services were planned to be diverted or altered.  For Leith Links this would have seen service 1 extend to Seafield via Vanburgh Place/East Hermitage Place to replace then service 12, which was curtailed in the city centre.  Immediately prior to this change the Coronavirus pandemic broke out and the city’s bus network was hastily adapted to run as a skeleton service during the initial lockdown period.  Subsequently the Spaces for People project closed a number of roads in the Leith Links area which prevented any bus route from operating across the Links.

Service 12 was not ‘summarily removed’ from Leith, the original and indeed Final Business Cases for the Tram project have always assumed that service 12 (along with service 22) would no longer operate via Leith Walk and would be curtailed to the city centre.  The northbound closure of Leith Walk from Spring 2020 led us to anticipate a significant reduction in demand for bus travel based on our experience with previous longer term closures for tram related works on Leith Walk.  As a result a number of changes were implemented to reduce excess capacity and reduced costs which included curtailing service 12 at the start of the project rather than on the introduction of trams in service.

When looking at reinstating a bus service across Leith Links we were faced with the lack of additional resources and a need to not increase operating costs, whilst at the same time remaining cognisant of the need to retain as many existing bus links as possible.  The only option to serve Leith Links under these circumstances was to re-route service 34 between Sleigh Drive roundabout and Ocean Terminal.  In order to provide a reasonable journey time (please see below) the new route would be via Restalrig Road the Links Gardens, Bernard Street and Commercial Street.  This led us to consider the provision of buses on both Restalrig Road, Lochend Road, East Hermitage Place which have links to Leith Walk and the city centre.  By swapping both pairs of services (34 49 to Restalrig and 21 25 to Lochend) both corridors retain their links to the city centre (25 and 34) and to Leith Walk (25 and 49) and to, whilst services 1 and 49 provide the same links on East Hermitage Place. 

Journey times to and from the city centre will change slightly with most journeys being timetable to be quicker.  Current journey times and new journey times are shown below along with a comparison with service 12 for Leith Links from 2019.

12 (2019) 25 (current) 25 (new) 34 (current) 34 (new)
Leith Links to Leith Street/York Place 18 minutes 17 minutes
Restalrig Road to Leith Street 18 minutes 15 minutes
Lochend Road to Leith Street 13 minutes 16 minutes

Lastly, regarding a link from the Leith area to the Western General Hospital, we understand the continuing desire for such a link, and indeed would be supportive of such an initiative in the medium to longer term, however given current pressures we are unable to commit to such a service at this time. 

I hope that this gives a bit more background information and context.

Lothian is absolutely committed to delivering for our customers and I know the significant role we play in a sense of community   I appreciate and acknowledge all that you state and I’m sorry that these changes have caused concern amongst some of your constituents.   However the (harsh) reality as previously mentioned is that as we move toward the cessation of Scottish Government financial support in the Autumn it is vital that Lothian take the necessary steps to stabilise our network and form a solid foundation on which to base our wider economic recovery.

Gaynor Marshall

Communications Director

***

From Leith Links Community Council, 22.08.22

Dear Sirs

I am writing on behalf of Leith Links Community Council, with regard to the imminent proposed changes to bus services in our area.

As you are aware, we have been campaigning for a new bus service to run through Leith Links to serve the large population in the growing number of new housing developments on the north side of the Links. We were looking for a new service, to replace the No. 12 service that was summarily removed a couple of years ago. We were NOT looking for a revamp of several well-established and well-used bus services in the wider area beyond the Links – that, while it could benefit some residents (nearest to the Links), could significantly disadvantage many others in our community (residents along the Restalrig Road and Lochend Road corridors).

In the discussions we have had most recently, with Ian Bieniowski and later John White, and Ben Ritchie, we were led to believe that prior to a new service being, hopefully, introduced in due course, Lothian Buses would continue holding discussions with the community, as regards the needs of local people. Also we were expecting to see proposals that would be presented with a view of how local bus routes are expected to link to / work with the tram service, and with some data on actual and projected usage, and catchment area, including the catchment numbers still to be built along Seafield Road.

So while we appreciate that Lothian Buses has, in one sense, ‘listened’ and been willing to act promptly, we are however very disappointed, that you have autocratically introduced sweeping changes without any consultation with the local community, and with no transparency, or presentation/communication of evidence. Also with very little notice and a lack of information about the existing and proposed new frequency of the relevant services.

Can we meet as soon as possible, please, to discuss this? And please will you send a representative to our next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council, which will be online on Monday 29 August at 6:30 pm, to explain the proposed changes and to answer questions? That meeting will be open to the public.

The immediate response to the proposed changes from our local community has been mostly negative, as far as we can establish so far. (Our efforts at consultation will continue.)

On the positive side, a bus running through the Links, and access to Aldi and Ocean Terminal, will be welcome, so thank you for that. But overall the 34 is probably the least popular bus that could possibly have been chosen, as it is relatively infrequent and a very slow route into town because it follows a circuitous route. Therefore it is perhaps not likely to attract much of a ridership going south into town (which may be used as an excuse to later axe it again…?). However the wholesale swapping over of Lochend Road buses with Restalrig Road buses has met with some horrified hostility. Why is this necessary? The 25 and 21 are both much needed routes, well-used by residents around the Links as well as further up Restalrig Road, and losing those is a very high cost for the local population.

This is not just a minor adjustment, though it may look like that to fit young people sat in front of a big map onscreen. On the ground, in real life, the distance between Restalrig Road and Lochend Road is too far to ‘just walk through’ for older and less able people. People adapt and develop their lives – and often make momentous decisions about their jobs, and house purchases – around the bus services that are available to them. Sudden changes to bus services can be traumatic and life changing. Also, having to take two buses instead of one can be unaffordable for many, especially in the current cost of living crisis.

The changes you are proposing (swapping 25 & 21, for 34 & 49 which, aside from their routes, are both less frequent services), seem to be maximally disruptive to both local communities (Restalrig Road and Lochend Road) without actually addressing any of the other main issues with bus services in Leith (no bus to Western General, concern over the loss of the No. 22, traffic congestion in Great Junction Street etc.).

We look forward to hearing from you, urgently, on this matter.

Sally Millar, Secretary

On behalf of Jim Scanlon MBE, Chair

Leith Links Community Council

 

Cc

Scott Arthur, Transport for Edinburgh, Convener, Transport & Environment Committee

Elected Councillors

(Ward 13) Booth, Faccienda, McVey

(Ward 14) Aston, Griffiths, Staniforth, Whyte

 

 

Changes to Bus Routes around the Leith Links Area

You may have seen a notice about proposed changes to bus services around Leith Links, due to start on 11th September. Click here to read the proposals.

Lothian Buses make it sound as though this is what Leith Links Community Council asked for, but that’s really not true – or only very partially true (Yes, we think people DO want a bus to run through the Links). But in fact neither the Community Council nor local residents were consulted about any of the details and received no prior warning of these proposals. We have some concerns about the scope of the changes.

Click here to read or scroll down to see the letter that we have sent today to Lothian Buses about the proposed changes.

We have asked Lothian Buses to meet with us and to attend the next meeting of the Community Council (which is next Monday, 29th August). We’ll keep you posted about the response we receive to this letter.

 

To

Lothian Buses

23.8.22

Dear Sirs

I am writing on behalf of Leith Links Community Council, with regard to the imminent proposed changes to bus services in our area.

As you are aware, we have been campaigning for a new bus service to run through Leith Links to serve the large population in the growing number of new housing developments on the north side of the Links. We were looking for a new service, to replace the No. 12 service that was summarily removed a couple of years ago. We were NOT looking for a revamp of several well-established and well-used bus services in the wider area beyond the Links – that, while it could benefit some residents (nearest to the Links), could significantly disadvantage many others in our community (residents along the Restalrig Road and Lochend Road corridors).

In the discussions we have had most recently, with Ian Bieniowski and later John White, and Ben Ritchie, we were led to believe that prior to a new service being, hopefully, introduced in due course, Lothian Buses would continue holding discussions with the community, as regards the needs of local people. Also we were expecting to see proposals that would be presented with a view of how local bus routes are expected to link to / work with the tram service, and with some data on actual and projected usage, and catchment area, including the catchment numbers still to be built along Seafield Road.

So while we appreciate that Lothian Buses has, in one sense, ‘listened’ and been willing to act promptly, we are however very disappointed that you have autocratically introduced sweeping changes without any consultation with the local community, and with no transparency, or presentation/communication of evidence. Also with very little notice and a lack of information about the existing and proposed new frequency of the relevant services.

Can we meet as soon as possible, please, to discuss this? And please will you send a representative to our next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council, which will be online on Monday 29 August at 6:30 pm, to explain the proposed changes and to answer questions? That meeting will be open to the public.

The immediate response to the proposed changes from our local community has been mostly negative, as far as we can establish so far. (Our efforts at consultation will continue.)

On the positive side, a bus running through the Links, and access to Aldi and Ocean Terminal, will be welcome, so thank you for that. But overall the 34 is probably the least popular bus that could possibly have been chosen, as it is relatively infrequent and a very slow route into town because it follows a circuitous route. Therefore it is perhaps not likely to attract much of a ridership going south into town (which may be used as an excuse to later axe it again…?). However the wholesale swapping over of Lochend Road buses with Restalrig Road buses has met with some horrified hostility. Why is this necessary? The 25 and 21 are both much needed routes, well-used by residents around the Links as well as further up Restalrig Road, and losing those is a very high cost for the local population.

This is not just a minor adjustment, though it may look like that to fit young people sat in front of a big map onscreen. On the ground, in real life, the distance between Restalrig Road and Lochend Road is too far to ‘just walk through’ for older and less able people. People adapt and develop their lives – and often make momentous decisions about their jobs, and house purchases – around the bus services that are available to them. Sudden changes to bus services can be traumatic and life changing. Also, having to take two buses instead of one can be unaffordable for many, especially in the current cost of living crisis.

The changes you are proposing (swapping 25 & 21, for 34 & 49 which, aside from their routes, are both less frequent services), seem to be maximally disruptive to both local communities (Restalrig Road and Lochend Road) without actually addressing any of the other main issues with bus services in Leith (no bus to Western General, concern over the loss of the No. 22, traffic congestion in Great Junction Street etc.).

We look forward to hearing from you, urgently, on this matter.

Jim Scanlon MBE, Chair

Leith Links Community Council

 

Cc

Scott Arthur, Transport for Edinburgh, Convener, Transport & Environment Committee

Elected Councillors

(Ward 13) Booth, Faccienda, McVey

(Ward 14) Aston, Griffiths, Staniforth, Whyte

 

 

Bin Strikes expected from Thursday 18th August

City of Edinburgh Council have issued the following notice:

Members of Unite the Union and GMB are planning strike action in Edinburgh from Thursday 18 – Tuesday 30 August.

Assuming the strike goes ahead, we’re expecting this to cause significant disruption to bin collections and street cleansing services across the city.

We’ve created dedicated web pages on our website with information about the strike, how it will affect residents and how they can manage their waste safely and responsibly during this time. We’ll update these pages and our Twitter feed regularly as new information and updates become available, including information on when services will restart.

Council leader Cammy Day said:

“My position remains firmly that our colleagues across the Council deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do, and I once again call on the Scottish Government to properly fund our capital city and its services.

“There are further meetings planned in the coming days and I hope that this can be resolved favourably as soon as possible.”

 

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