Public Toilets on Leith Links 2024

The temporary public toilets on the Links are located beside the low cream coloured (heavily grafittied) building beyond the hedge, behind the tennis courts, in the old bowling greens area of the Links, near the junction of Links Gardens and Johns Place

These toilets are operational 10-6pm daily. Or so we’re told. If you go to use them within those times and find them locked, please email parks@edinburgh.gov.uk to report the date and time you found them locked.

You’d think that installing the temporary public toilets on Leith Links for the summer season would go fairly smoothly, wouldn’t you, considering that this is the fourth year it has been done? Sadly, you’d be wrong.

First, the Council said they wouldn’t install temporary toilets this year, as permanent ones were to be installed.

Then they said they would, because the permanent ones have been delayed indefinitely.

Then they said they didn’t know when they would be installed, but they would let us know. They didn’t.

Then the toilets suddenly appeared, in mid June, without warning – though the Community Council was not informed.

They were not connected up to the water and electricity for some time, and again the Community Council was not kept informed.

They were still not open for public use on 12 July (when there was a World Orienteering Championship held on the Links, with 200 + people attending)

Ar random times between 13 July and the present, the toilets have sometimes been found open and operational, and sometimes / often been locked.

The council tell us they have been operational since 15 July and are open 10am – 6pm daily. We know that is simply not true as we have often found them locked and deserted during those hours.

There has been no sign erected to notify the public that the Portocabin on the bowling greens area is a public toilet. But now (24 July), after repeated requests from the Community Council, one has been affixed to the door at last. Good.

However there are no signs anywhere in the park to alert park users to the fact that the toikets exist at all, and where they are. The community council has fixed up some ‘home made’ signs, to help people find them.

Do use the Comments below to feed back to us your experiences of the toilets and how well they are working out, for the local community.

What’s the situation elsewhere?

Portobello – toilets open 10-6pm at the beach end of Pipe Street, near the food stalls on the Prom. (Other ‘alleged’ toilets at 4 Bath Street – are they open or not?)

Joppa – The restaurant Joppa Rocks at the furthest (east) end of the beach kindly makes its loos available to the public even if you don’t buy anything there. Staff will direct you to an upstairs loo, but there is a downstairs one for anyone with mobility issues.

Inverleith Park – same as Leith Links – temporary toilets but not obvious to visitors, no signage or notice re opening hours etc.

What’s Happening around Leith Links this summer?

Here’s what we know about – please contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk if you know of any other events on or around the Links in the next couple of months, that local people might like to be aware of.

Public Toilets
The Links were supposed to be getting a permanent public toilet block this summer, but it has been delayed, apparently, for various reasons, and will not now be built until the autumn or later…watch this space….
HOWEVER, good news – the Links WILL be getting temporary public toilets, like the past few years. If you want to know when exactly these will be arriving we suggest that you all – like this Community Council – email your local Councillors to ask when / and can they please try to speed the process up, stressing the urgent need that you and your family and friends experience for toilets, now that the weather is improving and people are spending longer out of doors.
Cllr.katrina.faccenda@edinburgh.gov.uk; chas.booth@edinburgh.gov.uk; adam.mcvey@edinburgh.gov.uk

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Duncan Place
All sorts of exciting events & activities take place at Duncan Place Community Hub, including sociable and undemanding ‘Seasonal Strolls’ around the Links, usually on Wednesday lunchtimes (But not every week- check with Duncan Place for schedule). Sign up here to receive their regular Newsletter, to keep abreast of what’s on.

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Earth in Common (on the corner of the Links at the Queen Charlotte Street end of John’s Place) now offers a Cafe and Farm Shop (Food Hub).
Cafe open Tuesday -Friday 9-3pm and Saturday-Sunday 10-4pm for tea and coffee, homemade sweet treats and a simple vegetarian menu.
Farm Shop sells local produce like vegetables, eggs and milk

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Leith Links Funfair
The traditional ‘shows’ will be on the Links this year as they are every year around Leith Festival time (over on the Duncan Place side) Sunday 2nd – Sunday 9th June

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Leith Festival Gala Day
This traditional community event will be held on Saturday 8th June

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Leith Festival 8th – 16th June
For news of the many exciting events held all around Leith during the Leith Festival, see www.leithfestival.com and look out for the printed paper programme which you will be able to pick up soon all over Leith (in cafes, pubs etc.)

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World Orienteering Championships 2024 – 12 July
This one off event will be held on and around the Links on the morning of  Friday 12 July, with start & finish points on the small triangle on the west side of Leith Links at Duncan Place, beside Leith Primary School. For more information, see www.woc2024.org/woc-tour/

Organisers are keen for people to come along and spectate too. The WOC races earlier in the morning on Leith Links will be the most exciting for spectating and there will be a ‘Finals’ event culminating in Central Edinburgh the same afternoon.

Latest news is that there are also going to be ‘open’ races for spectators / the local community, on the main part of the Links, slightly later in the day, with entries open to anyone – the shortest courses are suitable for complete beginners!  These involve people running around, navigating to checkpoints marked with a stake, small flag and electronic timing box. Entries are at:

https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=1280

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Archeology tests on the Links

Please be aware that there will be people working on site at the bowling greens at Leith Links this Thursday 9th May.  In case you are wondering – and to combat any possible misinformation – these are workers from AOC Archaeology Group who have been officially contracted to carry out archaeological tests at the site. This is part of the development work and site scoping for the proposed Activity Hub project (part of the Leith Links MasterPlan).

Leith Links Litterpick, Saturday 27th April – Join us!

In partnership with our friends at Duncan Place Community Hub, Leith Links Community Council is organising a community litterpick on Leith Links on Saturday 27th April, from 10am until 12 noon

Please do join us! All are welcome! Adults and children!
Litterpicking  – believe it or not – is strangely enjoyable and satisfying.

Litterpickers and bags will be provided but please bring your own work gloves.

Meet outside 4 Duncan Place (next to the school) at 10am on 27th.

Duncan Place Trustee Recruitment

Duncan Place are recruiting 6 new trustees to help run this important community hub.

If you would like to find out more about what the role involves then contact Duncan Place at:

info@duncanplace.org

or drop in to Duncan Place on 16th April between 7pm and 8pm for more information on what would be expected from you.

Duncan Place already delivers a range of services to the community and this is an exciting opportunity to get involved.

link to job advert on Right Move

Potential Trustee Form V1

Music Encounters on the Links, 16 March 2024

There will be some live music on the Links for all park users to enjoy, free of charge, on Saturday 16th March, as follows:

11-13:00 set-up

13:00-13:30 Firelight Trio – European music including Swedish polskas, Scottish reels, French waltzes, toe-tapping klezmer and dazzling original tunes. www.firelighttrio.co.uk

13:40-14:10 Ché Caré – One of Edinburgh’s finest Latin Trios and house band at Boteco Do Brasil playing timeless pop classics from all around the globe with a Latin core and jazz-rock twist. https://www.instagram.com/checaretrio/

14:20-15:00 Tom Oakes Duo/Trio – 2019 Scots Trad Awards ‘Musician of the Year’ nominee, Edinburgh-based Tom is regarded as one of the UK’s top Flautists and Multi instrumentalists. www.tomoakesmusic.com

15:00-16:00 take down

Dept Q , Location Filming , Monday, 11th March , Links Gardens

Location filming will take place in Links Gardens/Links Place for a chilling new detective series called Dept Q.

The crew will be filming scenes between 4pm and 10pm on Monday 11th March and this will lead to some road closures during these hours to allow the action to take place.

Location equipment and crew will be on site from 9am to set up.

The map link below shows where road closures will take place from 6pm to 10pm.

If you would normally be planning to drive through the area at that time of day then plan an alternative route.

LINKS ROAD CLOSURES

Dept Q is based on the crime novels of the Danish author, Jussi Adler-Olsen which have sold many millions of copies. The books have been made into successful television adaptations and films ( In Danish). This new production which moves the location of Dept Q to Scotland stars some well known actors and could be very successful.

I’ve just finished the first book in English which introduces you to the characters.

The book was first published in 2008 and then made into a movie.

Lets wish them great success with this new take on the novels.

 

 

 

Events on and around the Links

Filming on Links Place / Links Gardens, Monday March 11

Filming for a new Netflix detective series (a Nordic noir type drama) is taking place on Monday 11th March. There is likely to be traffic disruption as roads are closed temporarily and equipment moved in and out of the area, as well as actual filming. Nearby neighbours will get a letter delivered nearer the time with more details. Others would just be wise to seek an alternative route that day. If you’re interested, here is the background to the series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_Q

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Music Encounters on the Links, March 2024

Provided by the Council, there will be some live music on the Links for all local residents and ‘ordinary’ park users to enjoy, free of charge, on Saturday 16th March, as follows:

11-13:00 set-up

13:00-13:30 Firelight Trio – European music including Swedish polskas, Scottish reels, French waltzes, toe-tapping klezmer and dazzling original tunes. www.firelighttrio.co.uk

13:40-14:10 Ché Caré – One of Edinburgh’s finest Latin Trios and house band at Boteco Do Brasil playing timeless pop classics from all around the globe with a Latin core and jazz-rock twist. https://www.instagram.com/checaretrio/

14:20-15:00 Tom Oakes Duo/Trio – 2019 Scots Trad Awards ‘Musician of the Year’ nominee, Edinburgh-based Tom is regarded as one of the UK’s top Flautists and Multi instrumentalists. www.tomoakesmusic.com

15:00-16:00 take down

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Leith Festival Gala Day
This traditional community event will be held on Saturday 8th June

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World Orienteering Championships 2024
This one off eventwill be held on and around the Links on Friday 12 July

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City of Edinburgh Council REFUSED permission for the proposed electronic music festival FLY Summer Of Love’92 to take place on the Links, in May 2024.

What’s happening in Leith Links?

Monday 26th February – next Leith Links Community Council meeting, 6:30pm. This will be an ONLINE ONLY meeting (TEAMS). Agenda available here.

Email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk if you wish to attend, and you will be sent a link.

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£EITH CHOOSES Results night 22th February 

The results of which local charities / community groups have been successsful in winning funding will be announced ‘live’ at 6:30 pm at Leith Community Centre (cafe area). All welcome, do come along to hear the news, and for refreshments and a chat. Short meeting.

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February  – Leith Links Community Council survey about traffic and parking changes. Have you filled in this survey yet? Please do so, to have your voice heard, regarding how your life as a local resident, is affected – positively and/or negatively – by all the recent changes to traffic and parking in our area. Timing is key, as some of the changes which were temporary (such as the ‘bus gate’ on Links Gardens / Links Place) are about to be made permanent unless people report that they are not working well.

Give your views via the Community Council survey here

You can also make your views known direct to the council via this link:

edinburgh.gov.uk/leithconnections

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Events on the Links 2024 

We have just been informed that the City of Edinburgh Council has REFUSED permission for the proposed event FLY Summer Of Love’92 to take place on the Links, in May 2024. This is good news, as the community council and many local residents had objected to the application, feeling that this particular large scale, long and very loud event and Leith Links, so close to residents, were not a good fit for each other.

Music Encounters March 2024

Provided by the Council, there will be some live music on the Links for all local residents and ‘ordinary’ park users to enjoy, free of charge, on Saturday 16th March, from 1300h to 1500h. More details to follow later.

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