Tag: 2020

John Rattray site works update

It was with great fanfare that the Leith Rules Golf Society unveiled their statue of John Rattray on Leith Links, click here to view our blog post from the time. Alongside the statue there are three stone plinths with bronze plaques and sculptured mounds of marram grass which mimic the appearance of the greenspace as it would have appeared in the 1700s when Rattray played golf on the Links.

John Rattray and his golf rules are an important part of Leiths rich history. It is with thanks to the perseverance of the Leith Rules Golf Society, their supporters and their financial donors that their ambition has been realised on behalf of our whole community.

Since the unveiling in Autumn 2019 the site has remained fenced off, much to the frustration and concern of many members of our community who are wondering what is happening with the site.

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Scottish Water notifies community of increased risk of foul odour emissions

Many members of our community have had their quality of life negatively impacted during a recent spike in foul odour emissions from Seafield, for which one of Scottish Waters Dundee based managers issued an apology to our community.

However, Leithers have today been given notice by Scottish Water that there may be a further increase in foul odour emissions from the site with measures being put into place to help mitigate the increased odours. In a statement published today, and also emailed to Leith Links Community Council, Scottish Water said:

As part of our commitment to keep the community updated, we would like to advise that there are no planned maintenance activities taking place at Seafield WwTW this weekend.Scottish Water logo

However, following the recent extended dry spell, we have started to see some heavy rainfall with more forecast over the next couple of days. The change in weather means that solids that have accumulated in the network are now arriving at Seafield. This has entered the treatment process.

The wind is forecast to remain onshore for the majority of the weekend which raises the odour risk for the community.

In order to mitigate against elevated odours, the sludge that is arriving is being dosed to remove some of the compounds which cause odour. With no planned maintenance, all processing equipment and streams are fully operational which will allow for maximum processing throughout today and over the weekend.

While also campaigning for long term solutions, it is vitally important that we keep reporting odour nuisance whenever it occurs, to demonstrate the scale of the problem and the impact on the local community.

Leith Links Community Council continues to encourage any member of our community who is negatively impacted by the release of foul odour emissions from the Seafield site to report such incidents via our website.

Our online reporting tool not only notifies Scottish Water, but simultaneously informs the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Veolia UK, Leith Links Community Council, City of Edinburgh Council (officers and Councillors Booth, Munro & McVey), the Scottish Governments Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and local MSP Ben MacPherson.

 

 

 

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Scottish Water issue [another] apology for ongoing Seafield stench

Towards the end of last week our Community Council received many reports of foul odour emissions affecting residents quality of life, not just in the Leith Links are but also as far afield as Easter Road stadium and Pilrig. We posted an article about this on our website – Leithers despair as Seafield stench continues.

Over the weekend, in response to these complaints, and upon being challenged by Leith Links Community Council, Scottish Water have issued an apology to our community. In an email to Community Council Chairperson Jim Scanlon on Sunday Scottish Waters PFI Performance Manager (based in Dundee) said –

 I apologise to the community for us not being able to counteract the odours witnessed in recent days.

Commenting on the latest apology, Secretary of Leith Links Community Council Sally Millar said;

Community Councillor Sally Millar

The local community in the Leith Links area is frustrated, angry and sick –yes, literally, the smell makes people feel sick – of the disgusting odours of sewage emanating from the Seafield sewage plant. There has been a massive spike in complaints in the past two weeks. The weather is hot; we need to open our windows. Due to Covid19 lockdown rules, we are only allowed to go outside to exercise, play or relax near our own homes. Yet our entire area has been suffused with the foul smell of human excrement, for days on end.

These smells have been with us for decades, but none of the agents involved – the City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Water and Veolia and SEPA – seem to be able or willing to deal with this problem effectively. We are told that lots of rain causes the smells. Then we are told that lack of rain causes the smells. We are told that the wind causes the smell problem. Do they take us for idiots?

We have recently received yet another apology from Scottish Water for “not being able to counteract the odours witnessed in recent days”. But this is simply the latest in a very long line of similar apologies (a cut and paste job?). It is an insult to the local community. What we need is action and results, not continual apologies.

 

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Leithers in despair as Seafield stench continues

As of 7pm this evening Leith Links Community Council has received eleven reports of foul odours from Seafield. Today is the fourth day in a row that we have received odour complaints, with 29 being submitted to us since Wednesday. Complaints have been submited by residents from the Leith Links area extending as far as Easter Road stadium & Pilrig.

Leith Links Community Council established its online reporting tool due to frustrations felt within our community around existing reporting mechanisms. The online reporting tool allows members of our community to fill in one web form which is automatically submitted to Leith Links Community Council and a number interested parties & organisations;

Community Councillor Eileen Simpson, who leads on Seafield related matters alongside Community Councillor Jim Scanlon, continues to press the authorities for action to reduce foul odour emissions. She said today;

This spring, as every year, Seafield Sewage Treatment Works have exposed local Leithers to a series of appalling odour leaks.

Community Councillor Eileen Simpson

 

But this year it feels much worse, because our time out in the open air is so precious. And as we venture out for our walk, jog or cycle, our lungs are regularly assaulted by the appalling sewage stench we’ve come to know only too well.

 

The stench from Seafield has been sickening over the last few days. Lockdown is depressing for all, and our daily time in the fresh air is precious, especially in such beautiful weather. It’s dreadful that we are forced inside by this sickening smell. It damages our physical and mental health. Veolia don’t seem to care.

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Dangerous motorbike riding over Leith Links

Earlier this month we let you know that concerns were being raised about dangerous motorbike riding in the Leith Links area, you can view the original post here.

Sadly this evening two motorbikes were seen being rode through a packed Leith Links. One of the motorbike riders even doing a wheelie as they traversed the Links between park users at around 9pm this evening.

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Leith Links Community Council encourages members of our community to report any incidents to Police Scotland by calling 101 (non emergency) or 999 (emergency). You should do this whilst the incident is in progress, or as soon as possible afterwards. You should also report every incident to the Police. If possible please give the Police a description of the riders such as what they are wearing, what they look like, how old they appear to be, and any registration plates that can be seen.

 

 

 

 

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Places for Everyone shared off-road network/paths campaign in Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh Council have made Leith Links Community Council aware of its new Places for Everyone campaign.

We have become aware of a few concerns raised by our community about difficulties being encouraged through inconsiderate use of shared spaces such as Leith Links and the Restalrig Railway Path hopefully, this new guidance will support our community to use shared spaces in a way which avoids conflict.

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City of Edinburgh Council review of the 2019 Edinburgh Community Councils elections

City of Edinburgh Council have shared with us a briefing note on their review of the Edinburgh Community Councils elections held in Autumn 2019.

Leith Links Community Council will discuss the briefing note at its next meeting on Monday 25 May 2010, from 18:30, on Zoom.

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Housing Rights in Practice: Lessons learned from Leith

In 2015 the Scottish Human Rights Commission began working with a group of people who were living in poor housing conditions in Citadel Court, Persevere Court & West Cromwell Street. People were experiencing problems with damp, mould, ineffective or broken heating, pigeon, rodent and insect infestations, and maintenance issues.

Following on from this work the Commission has produced a report which it is now sharing with our community.

To download a copy of the report click here.

 

 

 

 

 

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Police witness appeal following a woman being assaulted on Restalrig Railway Path

Police Scotland have appealed for witnesses following a woman being assaulted by a male on the Restalrig Railway Path earlier this week.

The incident is understood to have occurred towards the Easter Road end of the path on Monday 18 May 2020 however, no timescale is provided.

Following door to door enquiries of nearby properties, Police have been displaying notices in the local community asking for those with any information to get in touch with them.

If you have any information please contact Police Scotland by calling 101, quoting reference numbers PS-20200518-2291 and / or CR/030948/20.

If you have information but are reluctant to liaise directly with Police Officers you may provide information via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

 

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Trams to Newhaven: Notice of works in Baltic Street & Constitution Street

The City of Edinburgh Councils Trams to Newhaven team have given our community notice of works due to begin on their work sites in the Baltic Street & Constitution Street areas.

In an email to Councillors Booth, McVey & Munro, a spokeswoman said;

I wanted to let you know that Morrison Utility Services will be carrying out essential gas maintenance works at the following locations within the Trams to Newhaven construction sites:

 

  • Baltic Street junction with Constitution Street
  • Constitution Street (Baltic Street Junction – Tower Street

Works will also take place to install ducting to support the BT Openreach project and maintain their digital network. Thereafter, BT Openreach will have a presence on site for the following six weeks.

 

 

The essential gas maintenance works will start on 13 May 2020 and last approximately seven days. There will be no interruption to resident and business gas supplies as a result of these works.

 

 

The project is committed to keeping our workforce and the public safe and to reduce the risk of spreading the COVID 19 virus. We will be working in line with the current Scottish Government guidelines of two metre social/physical distancing with extra safety measures in place to make sure that our teams and the public are protected.  These additional measures will include face masks, visors, glasses and gloves for use in any instance where two metres social/physical distancing cannot be maintained. Detailed briefings will be given to workers and we will be continuously monitoring working practices.

 

 

The works will be carried out during the normal working hours for the project which are 7am – 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm on Saturdays.

 

Questions & feedback can be submitted to any of the Leith Ward Councillors, or directly to the Trams to Newhaven team.  

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