Earlier this month we let you know that City of Edinburgh Council are considering an application to for a funfair to be brought to Leith Links in 2020 as part of Leith Festival.
We invited our community to submit to us their views, suggestions & questions on the application.
The event application has been considered by the Leith Links Community Council Sub Committee on Parks & Greenspaces, who have submitted the below response to the City of Edinburgh Council. This application specific response is our addition to our standing policy on requests for events on Leith Links.
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to give the response of both Leith Links Community Council and the members of the public who responded to our asking for comments on our website.
Firstly, LLCC is happy for this event to proceed. The fair has been setting up on the Links during around the time of Leith Gala Day for a long time and their has never been a problem with that. Our only concern is around the short timescale initially given for consultation. As you will know, there are a lot more events that are being planned for the Links and we would ask yourselves to give us and the public sufficient time to respond to these.
Regards,
David Igoe
Leith Links Community Council
Comments Received on the Leith Links Community Council Website
“Is this around the same time as the Chef Food Fair that you advised us of? The consultation is insulting to the intelligence of the interested parties. There is insufficient information given here about:
Where exactly on Leith Links the Funfair will be located.
How many rides and stalls it will consist of and what their nature will be.
Hours of operation.
Sound/music/noise nature and volume during operation.
Management of the site including rubbish and recycling.
Charges and revenue that will be generated and how that money will be used improve Leith Links
Making good any damage after the event.
Also I suggest all properties facing Leith Links are distributed with information about the proposal, they are the most likely to be affectedly noise etc and better effort should be made to inform and consult them
Unless better information is provided to consulates, no decision to approve this should be made
It should also be clearer what the Councils decision criteria are in these cases.”
“It’s a simple ‘no’ from me. For the last four years a resident I’ve had to put up with road closures, building works and noise. I’ve simply had enough.”
“The level of information provided is very poor and not enough to form any decision.
There is not enough information about numbers expected, how the crowds will be managed, how they will protect the grass etc, what their plans are to fix any damage, how they will manage any additional traffic etc. How will they manage the impact of music and noise on other park users, local residents and local businesses etc.”
“I am supportive of this application, provided that the event organisers minimise vehicle use on the Links (i.e. only for set up and take down, no driving on and off/around in between times) ensure scrupulous litter prevention/collection and cease noise by 1pm or midnight if not before.
This is a traditional event linked to a community event that has been coming for many years. Local residents enjoy it and is good for young people, unlike any of the events that want to use the Links, it does not last long, local peopler used to it, it does not generally attract young people from outside the area so no problems with traffic congestion, parking problems,ms etc.”
