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Talking about the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood, at Gala Day 2023

Overview

The Leith Festival Gala Day held annually on Leith Links offers a great opportunity to the local Community Councils to carry out their remit to share information and to engage with members of the local community.

This year, at the Gala Day on Saturday 10 June 2023, Leith Links and Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Councils worked together to gather feedback from community members on the newly implemented Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN).

The stand was staffed by members of the community councils from 11am to 4pm. During that time we spoke to about 200 members of the public, and invited them to share their thoughts about the LTN, using post-it notes on a flip-chart. We encouraged constructive feedback, both positive and negative, and asked people to be as specific as they could be, with examples of how their lives had been affected. In the process of doing this, people ended up discussing the issue with each other, as well as with members of the Community Councils.

A number of broad themes emerged from the feedback, these are covered below. Please also see Annexe 1 for a full list of the comments received. It is obvious that the local community is very divided on the issues.

Comment

Timing-wise, this was just at the very start of the LTN. (At the same time, a new controlled parking zone (CPZ) had just been introduced, so it may have been difficult for some people who contributed their views to be sure which project was affecting them most.)

Not all of those who responded necessarily reside within the LTN area, though as self-selected respondents, all obviously felt invested in the area in some way(s).

Clearly this is not rigorous ‘research’, but just a ‘snapshot’ of views at one particular point in time.

 

Key themes

1. A general acknowledgement that we need to reduce our emissions

Almost all respondents recognised the importance of mitigating the impacts of climate change, generally, and specifically were in favour of reducing emissions.

“We are aiming for 20% less cars – it’s going to be a bit disruptive, but needs to be drastic.”

2. People wanted safer streets, especially for children

A few respondents said that the closures had resulted in a better commute for children and cyclists, and one or two suggested closing Links Gardens again.

“It [the LTN] is safer for kids and pets. Quiet communities make healthier people – physically and mentally.”

“Sandport Bridge closure improves commute for pedestrians and transition from cycle path (Water of Leith).”

3. Very poor consultation and communication with community

The vast majority of respondents said that they didn’t feel there had been adequate consultation by the Council about the LTN. They felt this was typical of the Council and were pessimistic, feeling that their feedback had not been / would not be listened to, and that the Council would not modify its plans. Community members frequently said “what’s the point?” as they felt their views would not be taken into account and that it was too late to do anything. There was quite a bit of anger and frustration. In addition, there was feedback about the lack of sufficient joined-up thinking between the LTN, CPZ and other transport related schemes and initiatives.

“Residents need better communication about decision process, rationale and time frames.”

“Poorly communicated! Changes before anyone knows about it.”

“Not enough consideration for vulnerable people – access including carers and visitors not great.”

“No joined up thinking about various traffic initiatives – LTN, CPZ, LEZ, Trams, etc.”

“I don’t agree with how things have been rolled out. Residents have been ignored.”

Planters

Several respondents mentioned the planters specifically, and felt that they hadn’t been properly planned and thought through, especially from a sustainability perspective.There was concern that these would not be properly maintained by the council. Residents pointed out the neglect of existing trees and planters.

4.  Lack of consultation on, and information about which roads were being closed, and why

This issue seemed to have caused the most frustration. There was consternation and confusion about which roads had been closed and why, seemingly without consultation. The diverting of traffic down Salamander Place came up frequently.

“I love the principle but Salamander Place is not designed for the traffic it now takes, the junction at the Links is dangerous.”

“Salamander Place is not fit for all the traffic that is going to be going down! It’s a cobbled street!”

“Have destroyed my street – Salamander Place – all the traffic pushed down one cobbled street to be most congested place now!”

“Having only one main route (Commercial Street) is causing more congestion and pollution, reopen Sandport.”

“Elderly can’t get to St James’ Church.”

“As a community nurse it has made getting to home visits and parking for home visits more challenging.”

“Unfair on disabled drivers. Just look at Coburg Street.”

“Love safe cycle paths but don’t close all streets around. Not all black and white.”

“Stupid beyond belief. Okay in principle but should have been better thought through.”

5.  Significant concern that traffic and pollution have been displaced to boundary roads

Connected to the confusion over why certain streets have been closed and not others, respondents also shared concerns that the LTN wasn’t actually reducing traffic, but merely pushing it out on to the main roads that surround the zone, and that these are now even more polluted and busy, penalisng residents and pedestrians there.

“Great idea but I live on Great Junction Street and am worried that traffic and pollution by my flat will increase.”

“Open Coburg Street and Academy Street, Duke Street is now too congested, most polluted.”

“Traffic and pollution just get displaced.” “Causing congestion on main roads.” “Bottom of Leith Walk is a car park.”

“Great idea IF it reduces traffic in Leith, but currently creating lots of additional traffic and pollution, making it difficult/dangerous as a pedestrian. Also disrupting buses again after 5 years of tramworks!”

“I spend about 10 mins extra per day in my car idling at low speeds. It doesn’t work.”

“Leith cut in two halves. Traffic congestion. Stupid, stupid.”

6.  John’s Place pocket park is unwelcome and a waste of money

There was added confusion about why John’s Place had been pedestrianised in parts, and why resources have been spent on this change, especially given its location right next to Leith Links.

“John’s Place “pocket park” is stupid. Should have spent the money on doing up the bowling green.”

“Why close John’s Place? Why put this right next to a huge park?”

“It is ridiculous to create an area right beside Leith Links where there is already plenty of leisure space. Save John’s Place!”

7.  Travel in and out of Leith

With the road closures and added congestion on boundary roads around the LTN, people said that it was becoming more difficult to get in and out of Leith.

“As a business owner, it has created a lot of issues for travel in/out, parking and deliveries. Needs urgently reviewed.”

“To get to Western General from the Links now requires adding to congestion on Salamander Street and Great Junction Street.”

“There are simply no alternative routes for east/west traffic, so congestion builds up on Salamander, Bernard Street, Commercial Street.”

8.  Close The Shore

We heard time and again that residents would have preferred The Shore area to be closed to traffic (rather than Sandport Bridge etc.). People felt that if they had been consulted, this is what could have happened and that it would have had multiple benefits for restaurants, bars, pedestrians, and well-being and enjoyment.

“Close the Shore to traffic, it is a beautiful place for pedestrians.”

“Pedestrianise the Shore and increase commercial space for outdoor seating.”

“Why close Sandport Street? Close the Shore where people sit by the water in cafes and pubs.”

Summary

Throughout the day we heard from people who represented different demographics of the Leith and Leith Links areas. We observed that younger people were inclined to be more positive towards the LTN and had more general views on why climate change must be mitigated and emissions reduced. They didn’t appear to have been personally very affected by the changes either positively or negatively. Many of these people said that they cycled.

Older people, carers, people with disabilities, people connected with local businesses trying to trade in the area, and those who had to drive out of the city for work, felt that they had been directly affected by the LTN and that it made their lives more difficult. Many had concrete examples about the impact on their day to day.

Across the board, it was felt that the community hadn’t been properly considered, consulted, communicated with, or listened to.

Numerically, there were more comments AGAINST the LTN than FOR it.

Recommendations
  • We urge Edinburgh Council to engage further and more deeply with the communities affected by the LTN from now on, during the 18-month review period.
  • We recommend that greater effort be made to hear from elderly and vulnerable residents and those who care for them. Since some may be less able to access online surveys, focus groups or door to door in-person surveys might better record these residents’ views.
  • We urge the Council to remain open-minded and flexible to feedback received, and adaptable to potential changes.
  • We recommend that the Council urgently communicates the rationale behind the closure of certain streets to the affected residents.
  • We also encourage the Council to publish and communicate details of how the impact of the LTN will be monitored in 6, 12 and 18 months.

The Leith Links Community Council will continue to gather feedback from residents, and to share this information with the elected Ward Councillors, and with those responsible for the LTN.

Annexe 1 

Responses collected at the Leith Community Councils stand at the Leith Festival Gala Day about the Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), though some responses touch on the CPZ and other changes in the city.

 FOR

  1. Love it guys! Keep pedestrians walking!!
  2. I live near Coburg Street and now I can get to the Shore
  3. We are aiming for 20% less cars – it’s going to be a bit disruptive but needs to be
  4. Adopt a planter scheme for better maintenance?
  5. I feel a lot safer on the Shore when there are fewer cars around. Much quicker too!
  6. Drivers always shout louder than anyone else. But safe, clean streets are essential.
  7. Wonderful! Can’t wait for double yellows on Restalrig
  8. Great if Leith Links becomes safer for kids from school and park users when crossing roads.
  9. Bridge at Shore closure improves commute for pedestrians and transition from cycle path (Water of Leith)
  10. More cycling in Easter Road, better cycling on Leith Walk and around Leith Links – support LTN
  11. Local people, not cars + public transport
  12. Ignore the well-funded motor lobby
  13. Important for climate change, air pollution and safety!!!
  14. A really good thing! Let it go further. Close Links Gardens to cars again. Good for business and people.
  15. All for less space for cars and more space for people on foot/wheels.
  16. It’s safer for kids and quiet communities make healthier people – physically and mentally.
  17. Protect pavements from inconsiderate drivers preventing movement for mobility challenged
  18. Great, seeing a difference already. Great for walking and cycling, clean air.
  19. Climate change, air pollution, safer streets
  20. Just returned to Leith Links – what a difference. Great!
  21. Best thing to happen for Leith and climate change
  22. Less pollution, safer streets, more public areas
  23. Yay – Bikes +++ Cars – – –
  24. Safer streets so kids can play and walk home!
  25. Give streets back to people not to cars!
  26. Really pleased at the chance to change Leith for the better
  27. Loving it! Quiet streets are safer to walk and
  28. FANTASTIC! Coburg Street and Sandport Bridge is great for cyclists/pedestrians. More please!
  29. It’s great. Expand it! Pedestrianise the Shore, north and south
  30. I don’t like cars driving through

YES, BUT…

  1. Great idea but I live on Great Junction Street and am worried that traffic and pollution by my flat will increase.
    2. Great idea IF it reduces traffic in leith, but currently creating lots of additional traffic and pollution, making it difficult/dangerous as a pedestrian. Also disrupting buses again after years of tramworks!
    3. Love safe cycle paths but don’t close all streets around. Not all black and white.
    4. Less traffic on school streets. Good LTN on the Shore. Improve crossing on Easter Road with Dalmeny Street, unsafe for pedestrians.
    5. I love the principle but Salamander Place is not designed for the traffic it now takes, the junction at the Links is dangerous.

AGAINST

  1. Salamander Street is not fit for all the traffic that is going to be going down! It’s a cobbled street!
    2. Permit parking is a joke – council scandalous money-making scheme!
    3. More attention to the needs of Edinburgh citizens NOT tourists
    4. Left turn at Easter Road now getting put back after all the trouble of taking it away.
    5. Having only one main route (Commercial Street) is causing more congestion and pollution, reopen Sandport.
    6. I don’t agree with how things have been rolled out. Residents have been ignored.
    7. Parking issues for residents. Yellow lines OTT!!!
    8. John’s Place “pocket park” is stupid. Should have spent the money on doing up the bowling green.
    9. Why close John’ Place? Why put this right next to huge park?
    10. No left turn off Leith Walk a nightmare. But buses slashed too, will we get 12 or 21 back??
    11. Bus service disrupted since trams
    12. Yellow lines outside Doctor surgery = problem with parking for patients (Mill Lane)
    13. Edinburgh Council’s transport plans stink
    14. As a business owner, it has created a lot of issues for travel in/out, parking and deliveries. Needs urgently reviewed.
    15. Close the Shore to traffic, it is a beautiful place for pedestrians
    16. Close the Shore to all traffic
    17. Fix the cobbles at Tower Street (Constitution Street corner), Camber? Is now off and drains blocked causing flooding
    18. Now dangerous, especially with two schools nearby. Close Links Gardens again.
    19. Not thought through
    20. Bottom of Leith Walk is a car park
    21. Almost impossible to cross Leith Walk – just went too far
    22. Open Coburg Street and Academy Street, Duke Street now too congested, most polluted
    23. Need to turn left on Leith Walk
    24. Traffic and pollution just get displaced
    25. Why close Sandport Street? Close the Shore where people sit by the water in cafes and pubs
    26. Residents need better communication about decision process, rationale and time frames
    27. Over the top! E.g. closing the Sandport Bridge getting to Aldi
    28. The most poorly thought out, half-witted project yet. Polluting key areas, causing maximum congestion, making it unsafe to cross main roads. Hell mend you!
    29. Only makes sense if you close The Shore.
    30. Close the Shore! And some other streets.
    31. Stupid beyond belief. Okay in principle but should have been better thought through.
    32. Pedestrianise the Shore and increase commercial space for outdoor seating.
    33. Elderly can’t get to St James’ Church
    34. Close The Shore! We love the idea of coffees/drinks in the sun outside!
    35. It is ridiculous to make Easter Road into resident parking without telling the residents it is going to happen.
    36. To get to Western General from the Links now requires adding to congestion on Salamander Street and Great Junction Street
    37. Why not close The Shore? Any other city would make the most of it!
    38. How are the emergency services able to get places quickly with the road closures?
    39. This will increase pollution on Salamander Place!
    40. Absolutely crazy!
    41. Causing congestion on main roads
    42. Stop developing industrial and commercial areas into residential
    43. What plans do you have for looking after the planters!!!
    44. Poorly communicated! Changes before anyone knows about it
    45. It is ridiculous to create an area right beside Leith Links where there is already plenty of
    leisure space. Save John’s Place!
    46. As a community nurse it has made getting to home visits and parking for home visits
    more challenging.
    47. Unfair on disabled drivers. Just look at Coburg Street.
    48. Have destroyed my street – Salamander Place – all the traffic pushed down one cobbled
    street to be most congested place now!
    49. Moronic
    50. Permit – money for council that residents need to cover, outrageous
    51. Road closures a DISASTER. Traveling from other side of Leith Walk to Easter Road is
    awful.
    52. Why close Sandport and not the Shore?
    53. Why close Sandport Street where there was no congestion. Close the Shore.
    54. Accident waiting to happen, bikes incoming to oncoming traffic over cobbled roads!
    55. Causes congestion, more pollution, poor public transport
    56. Not enough consideration for vulnerable people – access including carers and visitors not great
    57. Lived here for 50 years, this is terrible
    58. The double yellow lines around Chapel Lane are preventing my daughter and other carers from visiting their dependents.
    59. No joined up thinking about various traffic initiatives – LTZ, LEZ, Trams, etc.
    60. I spend about 10 mins extra per day in my car idling at low speeds. It doesn’t work.
    61. Leith cut in two halves. Traffic congestion. Stupid, stupid.
    62. Traffic on main streets!! Pollution, noise from cobbles
, ,

Grit your teeth Leith Links-ers! It’s ALL happening…

What’s happening NOW? LOTS!

Parking (lack of/chaos) There will be widespread parking restrictions all around our area over the next 2 weeks – yes, above and beyond those caused by the CPZ! This is because of the Leith Festival Gala Day on Saturday 10th June (fairly minimal disruption) and because of the Proclaimers Concerts to be held on Saturday and Sunday 17 & 18 June (fairly massive disruption). Crews will start building the enclosure and marquee site for the Proclaimers as of 9th June, and there may be heavy vehicles coming and going. All parking is suspended on Links Gardens (see the yellow notices attached to lamposts) and some other places.

Local residents all around will face displaced parking overflowing from Links facing streets.

On the concert days themselves, we can be pretty sure people will still try to drive            here (in spite of the tram and bus services), so it could be like two major Hibs                  matches in a row (lasting over 6 hours each)…

The official information release says:

“Excitement is building around Leith Links as over the weekend of 17th and 18th June part of Leith Links will see crowds of 6,000 people each night attending sold-out Proclaimers Concerts. In the build up to the concerts and over that weekend more ‘excitement’ will likely be generated by suspension of parking in Links Gardens and surrounding streets.   Initially from 8am on 9 June parking will be suspended in Links Gardens and part of East Hermitage Place until 6pm on 23 June. This is to facilitate building and removal of the event site. And from 2pm on 17 June until 11pm on 18 June parking will additionally be suspended all along East Hermitage Place, Hermitage Place, Vanburgh Place, parts of Somerset, Fingzies and Parkvale place, Gladstone Place, Summerfield Gardens and Claremont Road. So it’s going to be very difficult for local residents to park near their properties over the weekend of 17/18 June and there will likely be some displacement parking from 9 June.

For further details see temp-23-132-ending-on-23-june-2023 (edinburgh.gov.uk)“

*

Low Traffic Neighbourhood

There is a new traffic island currently in construction on Links Place (near Links Gardens & junction with Salamander Place), aimed to make crossing easier and safer for pedestrians, as part of the Leith Connections scheme. (Note – this is NOT a zebra crossing as the Living Rent group claim.) Road markings are confusing right now but full signage will be going up very shortly. This will be a bus / taxi gate, and it will go live in a couple of weeks (delayed from original go live date of 12th June). So you can still drive through there for the moment.
Once live, no cars will be allowed to go through from Links Gardens west towards Queen Charlotte Street – only buses (there aren’t any), taxis (but not private hire cars), and cyclists. Vehicles heading west will have to go down Salamander Place and left along Baltic Street. As far as we know, vehicles WILL be able come through travelling from west to east.

Good luck folks!

 

 

 

 

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Controlled Parking& Low Traffic Neighbourhood in Leith Links

Parking Info

We were grateful to Gavin Brown and Gavin Graham of City of Edinburgh Council for coming along to the March ’23 Leith Links Community Council Meeting to talk about the forthcoming CPZ in our area, which is now scheduled to go fully live on 26th June.

The meeting was attended by a large number of local residents They answered our many questions very fully, and a transcript of those Q &As is available here.

They stressed that if anybody has questions about anything to do with parking controls in their street or area, expecially if urgent, they should in the first instance contact:

ParkingOperations.CustomerCare@edinburgh.gov.uk

as that email is constantly monitored and will achieve a quick reply, whereas emails to the personally may take longer to go through.

See also our earlier post witrh details about permits, at:

http://www.leithlinkscc.org.uk/controlled-parki…eith-north-leith/

*

LTN Info

We were grateful to Councillor Scott Arthur and Miles Wilkinson of City of Edinburgh Council for coming to our April ’23 LLCC meeting and sharing information about the Low Traffic Neighbourhood, which has been being rolled out in stages throughout April and May (and June, to come). Again, that meeting was attended by many local residents, and many questions were asked and answered. The presentation that Miles gave that evening is too large a file to be handled easily here, but you can read the latest edition of the LTN Newsletter here.  (N.B for 35 read 34 bus).

Any queries about the LTN should be directed in the first instance to: leithconnections@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

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AGM & next meeting of Leith Links Community Council: Monday 29 May at 6:30pm, live at Duncan Place.

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be held on Monday 29 May at 6:30pm. This meeting will be ‘live’, in-person, and will take place at Duncan Place centre (4 Duncan Place).

The first part of the meeting will consist of the AGM,  followed by a short ‘ordinary’ meeting.

Previous (May 2022) AGM Minutes, and 2023 AGM Agenda for next week are here. Annual Report from Chair, Secretary & Treasurer will follow.

The Minutes of the recent April 2023 meeting, and the presentation given by Miles Wilkinson about the Leith Connections and Low Traffic Neighbourhood are here, and the Agenda for the 29 May 2023 ‘ordinary’ meeting, are here.

Members of the local community are welcome but, sadly, space is very limited in this venue, so please be sure to contact us in advance if you would like to come along. Please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk if possible, well BEFORE 29 May.

If you have any issues that you would like to see on the Agenda, please get in touch as soon as possible.

We will also set up a Zoom link so that people can attend the meeting remotely, email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent the link nearer the time. Warning – the quality for listeners will not be particularly good, as we only have a standard laptop and no special broadcasting equipment, but you would be able to ask questions and make a point via the zoom host.

Bus to the Western General

It has long been a serious complaint that there is no direct bus from Leith to the Western General Hospital. The situation for Leith Links residents has got even worse since the 21 was rerouted away from Restalrig Road. If you have to take 2 buses, here’s two ways to avoid Crewe Toll and busy Princes Street bus stops:

1.

Take a No. 1 bus from Leith Links (now increased in frequency to every 15 minutes) to London Road (Brunton Road stop, first stop after the top of Easter Road, outside the new Herringbone cafe). Change there to a No. 19 which goes to the Western.

or, 2

NEW There is also a green and white East Coast Bus No. 113 which now goes right into the Western. You can get a 34 bus heading into town from Leith Links and change on to the 113 on London Road at the Abbeyhill stop before Easter Road (colonies, Red Kite cafe, bike shop) as the 113 turns up Montrose Terrace. Lothian Buses passes, Day Ticket etc. are valid on East Coast buses.

Controlled Parking Zone (Zone N8), Leith & North Leith

Everyone is scrabbling for information about the new parking controls coming in.

At our LLCC and LH&N CC meeting a few weeks back, Council Officers Gavin Brown and Gavin Graham kindly attended and provided the Community Council and local residents with a range of information about the impending Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in Leith is available via the links below*.

However, some of that information is already out of date. Here is the basic key information, updated as of 17 May 2023:

PERMITS

You can apply for a Residents Parking Permit from 5th June. You need to set up an ‘Account’ and a Password first, and your permit will be electronic, not ‘paper’. Start here:

https://edinburgh.nsl-apply.co.uk/

When you apply, set your start date for the permit as 26 June 2023, to get best value.

GO LIVE DATE

The CPZ will actually go ‘live’ on 26th June 2023. That means parking charges will be enforced in all marked bays, whether for Residents’ Permit Holders Only or Pay and Park .

(The double yellow lines are already live, the moment they are painted, so you can get a ticket if you patrk there.)

PRICES

The actual parking charges and the cost of permits has gone up since the presentation in March. You can find the correct current prices for residents permits here.

There are separate price schedules for business permits, visitors permits, etc. here https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parking-permits

You can find the ‘Pay to Park’ prices here, although unfortunately the website has not been updated to include Leith (Zone 8), but we’re guessing it counts as a ‘Peripheral’ zone, therefore might be £3.40 per hour.

* For more background and some specific details, follow these links and have a read of the information provided at the March Question and Answer session:

  1. The presentation on the CPZ from Council officers.
  2. The questions that residents asked, and answers to each question,  from the Council officers.

 

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Leith Links Community Council meeting, Monday 24 April, 6:30pm, online

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be held on Monday 24 April at 6:30pm, online (probably Microsoft Teams). This meeting will once again be held in partnership with our neighbour Community Council, Leith Harbour and Newhaven.

Previous Minutes (March) and April Agenda are here. Two additional documents (short Council presentation on the CPZ, and detailed record of the questions addressed in discussion) are also available here.

Once again, we have special guest speakers attending our next meeting. The main topic of the meeting will be the Leith Connections and Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood. Miles Wilkinson, Senior Project Manager, Active Travel Team, and Scott Arthur, Convenor, Transport and Environment Committee, have kindly agreed to attend the meeting and to share information and answer questions about changes in Leith that will be brought about by the Low Traffic Neighbourhood that is being introduced. You can read up about this online before the meeting, at https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/leithconnections

Although the format of the meeting will not be quite as ‘question-led’ as last month’s meeting, the special guest speakers at our meeting next week will answer questions on the LTN, so please send in any questions you have, asap, in the comments below and/or by email to contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

Members of the local community are welcome to attend  Please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent a link for the meeting, nearer the time. (Please do this BEFORE 12.00 on 24 April, as ‘last minute’ requests are difficult to fulfil.)

Leith Links Community Council meeting, Monday 27th March, 6:30pm, online (Teams).

The special guest speakers at our meeting tomorrow asked for questions to be sent to them in advance, so we have done that. We are listing those questions here below, so that members of the community can also see them in advance.

Gavin Brown and Gavin Graham of the City of Edinburgh Council have agreed to share information and answer questions about the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) that are about to be introduced.

Members of the public from Leith and North Leith are welcome to attend  Please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent a link for the meeting. (Please do this BEFORE 12.00 on 27th March. Last minute requests are difficult to fulfil.)

YOUR QUESTIONS

CPZ Questions from Leith Links & Leith Harbour & Newhaven Community Council residents

General

How do we know if we need a permit or not? How / where/ when do we apply?

*

When will permits come into action and how much will they be?

*

Can we get permits for visitors and guests?

*

Will parking permits be needed at night time and weekends, or are they only for 8-5 or 9-6 (or whatever) hours?

*

I have carers coming to the house three times a day. Two carers on the morning and evening slot. How are they supposed to park? They already are very low paid and can barely afford to work, so I don’t think they can afford to pay big parking fees (and I can’t afford to pay them for them) and also, they are not paid for their travel time, so if they have to spend ages searching for a parking place it will eat into the time they have to give me the care I need. I am very worried.

*

Why can’t we have parking control only at times that will stop commuters parking all day (like they have at the Grange)? Why does it have to be so all encompassing?

*

With reference to the above subject and the meeting on Monday 27th March  I would like to ask why CEC have made it so difficult to clearly determine what the full proposals are? With some information being provided on maps and other information provided elsewhere it’s virtually impossible to obtain an accurate understanding of the full plan.

What levels of revenue CEC expect to raise from the introduction of these new CPZ’s and what will this extra revenue be spent on?

What exactly are the proposals to deal with displaced parking should this become an issue? Merely the introduction of further CPZ’s, or are other potential solutions available?

*

My family often come up from England to visit me, and stay a couple of days. Can I get a Visitor permit for them?

*

I have an AirBNB in the area. How will my guests be able to park?

*

When will the controls be implemented? I see yellow lines going in right now, but I don’t think they are ‘live’? How will people know when they start and how long they can continue to park there without fines, meanwhile?

*

I am a business owner. I am interested to know what we are expected to do about our employees and customers’ parking, since most of Leith parking is for permit holders only. I have a few employees, one of which has to run off to pick up her children from school, she cannot get a bus as timing is unpredictable due to the north bridge closure/consistent changes of leith walk bus stops, and is not on a tram route, and has to park her car. She has expressed an idea that she might have to look for another job due to her not being able to park anywhere. How is it fair that I might lose an employee due to parking restrictions? This is only one of my employees. There must be hundreds of employees in the same situation, let alone customers who will stop coming to Leith to use our businesses. We have already had clients complain that they cannot park. We are not commuters. We are only trying to park our cars and run our businesses. Finally we are getting somewhere with the trams, we’ve survived 16 years of roadworks and mess and now we can’t even park to come to work.

More Specific

Elderly and disabled people who live in a PoLHA block at 133 Constitution Street are ‘marooned’ in their homes as there are no spaces for parking or loading / unloading bays near their door, for taxis and relatives to pick them up and drop off. (Not to mention ambulances etc.)  What can be done to help them?

*

The Better Day supermarket on Salamander Place is a lifeline for the many residents who live around this area and don’t want to enter the congested areas of Duke Street/Leith Walk and Commercial Street etc. for shopping. It needs a loading bay outside and a few parking slots for shoppers (maybe restricted to 30 minutes and No Return within X hours.

*

I’d like to know if the CPZ people have liaised with Lothian Buses? There are ongoing discussions about the route of the 34 bus and the location of permanent bus stops  (Constitution Street/ Links Place / Links Gardens /  Salamander Place), and I am concerned that road markings for the CPZ  will not be coordinated with the new plans for the bus stops.

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Police officers – Given the representations made to the consultation by a number of police officers about the impact on them, is there no way the Council can provide them with permits in conjunction with their employer?   A sort of essential worker with ‘anti social working hours’ permit?  Many start and finish work at times there is no or very limited public transport and may live quite a way from the Leith station where the Police vehicles are parked.   Was this issue even considered?

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Controlled parking is coming in on Tower Place,  against the wishes of the residents (who all have allotted parking spaces with their flats). There will now be no free parking in this area as double yellows all along this section of Ocean Drive due to trams.  Where are delivery vans going to park? They have already started parking on the pavements… sometimes blocking dropped kerbs  (and we have a few wheelchair users) and there are huge numbers of pedestrians using the road constantly due to the Victoria ship (plus many of them have cars parked in Tower Place). Could we at least have a couple of loading bays?

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I’d like to know if the council will repaint all lines /add new lines on Tower St. It’s devoid of ANY road markings. Also George Brown & sons park big vans in 2 disabled spaces on Tower St alongside the Malmaison – and this must stop.

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Parking bays being put in the entrances to the garage businesses on Manderston St and Gordon St, why? We will be fighting just to get parked at our own entrance! Bad enough when the double yellows got put in deterring customers parking up for quotes, advice etc! Some thoughts for local business wouldn’t go amiss.

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I have a permit for my own home address (Links Gardens), will I also be able to park near my work if I need to at times (Commercial Street)?

I don’t really understand the zones – both North Leith and Leith seem to be numbered N8 – are they covered by the same permit?   With a permit for Links Gardens, will I be able to park in the North Leith zone, eg, away along at Newhaven?

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I had a walk round the block this morning and counted 7 cars in permit holder parking areas. Obviously not in use yet but they all had school parking permit holder badges. St Mary’s school parking area is full so I assume these are teachers cars on the street. A question for Monday. Will these cars be allowed to use the permit parking spaces? Or is their permit just to use the full school car park?

Monitoring

I’d like to know what the arrangements are going to be for monitoring in the adjacent areas and how long the monitoring period will go on for.   Will there be a baseline established to monitor against?   If that is done during school holidays it will show a significantly lower number of cars parked in Duncan and Wellington Place and Links Place.

Having seen the painting for ‘Permit Holders only’ has just gone in on Links Gardens and assume the double (?) yellows will go in next I would expect to see immediate displacement effects to other areas.    In the absence of signage to show the controls do not apply as yet people will avoid risking a parking fine.

Can I therefore ask the CPZ speakers to tell us more about how they will actually monitor displacement from now- not just when the controls actually come in which looks to be likely in six months time?    For example are they setting up monitoring points/positions and doing parked vehicle counts at specific times/days of the week?    Do they have people living in certain streets to report in to them?   How will ‘monitoring’ actually work and when will it start?

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I live just outside the CPZ, and am anticipating a huge problem of displaced parking in my street and immediately surrounding streets. What ‘monitoring’ will be done exactly? When will it start? How will the level of displaced parking be measured and recorded?

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This next list, compiled by Councillor Chas Booth, are questions that he has received from community councils and others:

General questions or process questions

1)            Where can we see the map tiles of the final version of the restrictions, as they will be installed? Page 3 of the Strategic Review of Parking website shows maps, but it’s not clear if these are the final version, as they will be installed?

2)            Where can we see a detailed list of all the comments received during the consultation and the council’s response to each one? In many cases it looks like the council has ignored comments submitted during the consultation, and I’d like to know why? If it’s not possible to see each comment and response, is it possible to see common themes and the council’s response to these?

3)            When will the controls come into force?

4)            What communication with residents will there be before the controls come into force? Specifically, will I receive a letter giving me sufficient warning to allow me to get a permit?

5)            Zones N7 and N8 don’t appear to be listed on the council’s list of residents’ parking permit charges on the council website. Why not? When will they be listed? What will the price of a permit be in zones N7 and N8?

6)            Why are you introducing these changes? There is no problem with parking in my area.

7)            What consultation was carried out prior to this work starting? Where can I read the consultation reports?

8)            Some of the map tiles I have seen do not appear to have been updated with the results of the tram work. What coordination happened between the CPZ team and tram team? For example some sections immediately adjacent to the tram line only have restrictions until 5.30pm, whereas any parking at that location is likely to stop tram operations?

9)            Are these changes consistent with the proposed cycle lane along Lindsay Road, Commercial Street, Baltic Street etc as part of Leith Connections phase 3? Will the whole thing need to be ripped up if that project is approved? What coordination happened between the CPZ team and Leith connections team?

10)          What are the hours of operation of the new restrictions?

11)          If people act as paid or unpaid carers for somebody living in the new zone, how do they go about getting a permit? Is there a charge for carers to get a permit and if so what is it?

12)          What does the council intend to do to publicise the details of the new zone to residents and visitors, to ensure everyone is aware when it goes live?

13)          If changes are needed to the scheme as installed, for example because parking bays are causing an obstruction, or if unrestricted roads in the area suffer from uncontrolled parking, what is the process and timetable for remedying this? What review processes are in place to ensure these issues are picked up and acted upon?

Queries related to specific streets / locations:

  1. a)            Why is there pay-and-display parking at Salamander Street next to the junction with Salamander Place? This is the narrowest part of the street and likely to lead to problems. It should be double yellows.
  2. b)            There should be a loading bay outside the convenience store on Salamander Place, why is this not included?
  3. c)            What is the council doing to address parking pressure around the Links on match days and other days when events happen? Why are the restrictions not 7-days?
  4. d)            What are the proposals within the new Ropeworks development?
  5. e)            On Mill Lane there is a short section of residents parking shown. This is visitor parking for the former Leith Hospital, and should not be covered by restrictions.
  6. f)             Salamander Street on the south side appears to show parking restrictions, but this is where phase 3 of Leith connections intends to put the cycle lane?
  7. g)            What are the details on Portland Street? Will the end-on-parking be retained or not? If this is to be unrestricted, how will the council respond to parking problems as they arise?

 

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Next Meeting of Leith Links Community Council – your questions about parking!

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be held on Monday 27th March at 6:30pm, online (via Microsoft Teams). The meeting will be held in partnership with our neighbour Community Council Leith Harbour and Newhaven.

March Agenda and Previous Minutes (February) are here.

We have special guest speakers attending, Gavin Brown and Gavin Graham of the City of Edinburgh Council, who have agreed to share information and answer questions about the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) that are about to be introduced to Leith and North Leith.

Members of the public from these areas are welcome to attend – we are hoping for a large attendance. Please email contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk and you will be sent a link for the meeting. (Please do this BEFORE 27th March if possible as ‘last minute’ requests are difficult to fulfil.)

Our speakers have asked that your questions about the CPZ be sent to them in advance of the meeting so that they can be prepared to answer them.

What would you like to know about the imminent Controlled Parking Zones?

Please send your questions in (fairly briefly worded please) as soon as possible, either via the Comments below, or by email to contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk
and we will forward these to our Council speakers for next week.

Please note that the topic of this meeting does NOT cover the whole Leith Walk area, but only Zones N8 (and by implication, adjoining ‘grey zones’) on the map below.

The 34 bus route, and bus stop location

The Community Council recently asked Lothian Buses what their plans are for the No. 34 bus.

In September 2022, the new bus route taking the 34 down Restalrig Road, through Links Gardens, and down Salamander Place before proceeding along to Ocean Terminal was introduced. For some reason, it was described as having been ‘re-routed’ or ‘diverted’ from Constitution Street due to the tramworks (although in fact there never was a 34 on Constitution Street, though there was at one time a 12, and of course the 16).

We were initially told that the 34 would eventually travel via Queen Charlotte Street and the north end of Constitution Street once the end of the tramworks made that possible. Now that the works are nearly over and the roadway is clear, we wondered if the route of the 34 would change?

A number of local residents have been asking about this. Some are keen to see a bus on Constitution Street again, while others have pointed out that the Salamander Place route actually delivers a much needed service to the large population of people who live in the new homes (e.g. the RopeWorks) around Salamander Place, with many more new residents set to move into the new flats being built on Salamander Street / Baltic Street.

Below is the reply we received from Lothian Buses:

34 Bus – Leith Links

Lothian service 34 continues to be diverted via Salamander Place.

Lothian have not been advised of a date when Constitution Street will be suitable for buses.  The route via Salamander Street has proven to be popular with customers and Lothian is in discussions with the Council’s public transport team regarding the possibility of permanent bus stops that would allow the service to operate via Salamander Street in the future.  Lothian do not have a timescale or any further detail on this at present.    

Lothian is committed to delivering for all of our customers – we will publicise any changes as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Gaynor Marshall
Communications Director

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The mention of bus stops raises a new and important question. If the current route is kept, and bus stops are to be made permanent, we want to be sure the stops are in the ‘right place’ to be most useful to bus users. If you have views on the best location for 34 bus stops around the Links, please let us know in the Comments below, or in an email to contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

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