Tag: 2025

Last Chance to Comment – holiday flats on Constitution Street, do you approve?

Sorry this is very last minute, but we’ve just spotted a planning application that may be very profitable for a landlord, but not necessarily what is needed in our neighbourhood. What do you think? Do we need / want a block of 39 serviced ‘holiday flats’ for short term rent on Constitution Street/ Johns Lane? (as opposed to the residential flats that were originally given planning permission there, but never built)?

If you are not convinced, please object to try to stop this development! Unfortunately, 5pm tomorrow Friday 31st is the last day for comments.

To access the application and add a comment, please go to:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SZ2KWWEWM2Y00&activeTab=summary

If  you are short of time or not sure what to write, just keep it short and simple and say that you object, and give a basic reason.

This Community Council is arguing that Edinburgh has a housing emergency; what is needed is new homes for permanent / long term residential use, NOT short term lets. The Leith Links area is already seeing a creeping intensification of ‘hotels’ / B&Bs / hostels / HMOs (often causing detriment to the fabric of buildings of significant heritage, within the Conservation Area), with several further applications pending for the latest developers’ wheeze – so-called ‘Apart-Hotels’. Too many in a small area could be seen as inappropriate / at the expense of a sustainable residential community. You can access the full text of the LLCC objection here.

Please note that, of course, anyone is equally entitled to support the application if you so wish!

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Next LLCC meeting, tomorrow Monday, 27th October, at Duncan Place, 6:30pm

The next meeting of LLCC will be tomorrow Monday, 27th October, in person at Duncan Place, at 6:30 pm.

We have important Guest Speakers from City of Edinburgh Council: Mr. Gareth Barwell, Interim Corporate Director of Place, and Mr. David Givan, Chief Planning Officer and Head of Building Standards.

They have agreed to come for a discussion on questions we asked them, including the following :

What is the vision – what is planned – for Leith, in the next few years?
Our area has been very profoundly affected in recent years by dramatic changes  – large scale new building developments, significant population expansion, tramworks, new CPZs and pending CPZs, Leith Connections’ road closures and partial closures and new cycleways, bus re-routings and diversions,’floating bus stops’ etc. (as well as more routine roadworks, planned utility works etc., often springing up with no prior warning, and no explanation to local residents & businesses) – but it sometimes feels to people in the local community that the various different departments at the council do not necessarily put together an integrated overview of how all these different schemes will interact with each other and do not consider the overall effect on local residents.  Is there an overall, connected, picture of it all, and of how all these schemes will interact with each other and affect local residents (intended and unintended consequences)?  How will it be monitored?
Basically – who is is in overall charge and taking responsibility for the aggregated effect of all these separate schemes?

The meeting is open to interested members of the local community.

Here is a link to enable remote attendance.
Secretary LeithLinks invited you to a Microsoft Teams Meeting:
LLCC October meeting
Monday 27 October 2025
18:30pm GMT

 

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Musical and social opportunity in Leith Links for people living with dementia

Music for Memory Group – Leith

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A community music group in Leith, open to all, led by Music Therapists Tilly and Tatiana. Come for the music and the reminiscences at St. James Church, 11A John’s Place, Leith, EH6 7EL. Free admission.

This session will be run by a group called Forget Me Notes who already work in other parts of Edinburgh, and who would like to be able to offer support in the Leith area to those living with dementia (and their carers / family members / friends).

A short, friendly – and free  – session; why not come along and give it a go!

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LLCC meeting, tomorrow, Monday, 27 October, Duncan Place, 6:30 pm

The next meeting of LLCC will be next Monday, 27th October, in person at Duncan Place, at 6:30 pm.

We have important Guest Speakers from City of Edinburgh Council: Mr. Gareth Barwell, Interim Corporate Director of Place, and Mr. David Givan, Chief Planning Officer and Head of Building Standards.

They have agreed to come for a discussion on questions we asked them, including the following :

What is the vision – what is planned – for Leith, in the next few years?
Our area has been very profoundly affected in recent years by dramatic changes  – large scale new building developments, significant population expansion, tramworks, new CPZs and pending CPZs, Leith Connections’ road closures and partial closures and new cycleways, bus re-routings and diversions,’floating bus stops’ etc. (as well as more routine roadworks, planned utility works etc., often springing up with no prior warning, and no explanation to local residents & businesses) – but it sometimes feels to people in the local community that the various different departments at the council do not necessarily put together an integrated overview of how all these different schemes will interact with each other and do not consider the overall effect on local residents.  Is there an overall, connected, picture of it all, and of how all these schemes will interact with each other and affect local residents (intended and unintended consequences)?  How will it be monitored?
Basically – who is is in overall charge and taking responsibility for the aggregated effect of all these separate schemes?

The meeting is open to interested members of the local community.

Here is a link to enable remote attendance.
Secretary LeithLinks invited you to a Microsoft Teams Meeting:
LLCC October meeting
Monday 27 October 2025
18:30pm GMT

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Please come and join the Litter pick on the Links, Saturday 4rth October 10am

NOW CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER!

Duncan Place is organising a litter pick on the Links next week, and looking for volunteeers to come along to help. Do come and join in – litter picking os surprisingly satisfying!

Leith Links Litter Pick

When?

  • Saturday 4th October
  • 10am – 12noon (free cuppa afterwards).

Where?

  • meet at Duncan Place Community Hub at 10am (4 Duncan Place, EH6 8HW)

What?

  • Litter pick on Leith Links
  • Followed by a hot drink and biscuits inside
  • We have litter pickers, and a limited number of bin bag hoops and gloves for you to use. If you have your own, please bring them!

Who?

  • Everyone is welcome to come and help!
  • Young people (under 16) attending should be accompanied by an adult

If the weather is really bad, the the litter pick wil be called off! If in doubt, give Duncan Place a call on the morning (from 9am) on 0131 364 4351.

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Leith Jacobites and the ’45 Rebellion, Tuesday 16th September, Leith Community Centre, New Kirkgate

  1. Just a little reminder to please join us at the first meeting of the Leith Local History Society programme for 2025/26, on TUESDAY 16th September AT 7pm in Leith Community Education Centre,New Kirkgate, Leith to hear this fascinating presentation by Steven Robb.

Leith Jacobites, James Nicolson and the ’45 Rebellion.

While researching James Nicolson a Coffee House owner on the Shore and later a follower of Bonnie Prince Charlie, Steven discovered links to other Leithers who supporrted the Jacobites cause and what made them become involved.

It should be an interesting night.

Our speaker, Steven is from Edinburgh and works for Historic Environment Scotland and has a background in architectural conservation.

 

All welcome, £2 at the door for non members  or free to members

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Fire!! Cuts to our local Fire Services

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is proposing a number of changes and service cuts, one of which is to close the Marionville Fire Station. This could have very serious consequences for our area, as it would mean that fire services would come out instead from NewCraighall which would clearly take much longer to reach a fire in the Restalrig, Leith Links, Leith, Seafiled, Craigentinny, Meadowbank, Willowbrae etc. areas. And as we know, the time it takes to attend a fire can be crucial in terms of saving lives, as well as protecting property and preventing fire spread.

If you would like to learn more and comment on these plans, please come along to the public meeting tomorrow, and/or please complete the survey mentioned below.

SFRS is running a public consultation on the future of Marionville Community Fire Station in the city of Edinburgh. We will be holding a public meeting as follows:

Tuesday 2 September (2-4pm and 6-8pm)

Craigentinny Community Centre, 9 Loaning Road,

Edinburgh EH7 6JE

In addition, SFRS has launched an online survey and is keen for individuals and groups from the local community to share their views. The consultation ends on 16th September.

https://firescotland.citizenspace.com/sfrs-communications/sfrs-service-delivery-review-consultation/

https://www.fbu.org.uk/campaigns/scotland-cuts-leave-scars

www.firescotland.gov.uk

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This Saturday – a grand day out!

The lovely folk from the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (Edinburgh/Leith branch, based at Royal Terrace) are hosting a ‘Festival of Unity’ this Saturday, 23rd August, on Leith Links. It is free and open to everyone and indeed is aimed to bring Leithers from all backgrounds together in friendship.

The event is funded by the grant the group won through £eith Chooses, earlier this year, so obviously seen as popular in the Leith community.

This is a very friendly and welcoming group, and – going by their smaller events in past years – they throw a great party and do really great food!! Their choir has been singing at the Tattoo this year, and rumour has it that Leith’s own samba band Pulse of the Place will also be there to set the beat.

Please do go along on Saturday to support the group and join in the fun! Opens at 12 and runs until 4pm – suggest you get there before the cakes run out…..

           

 

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Next Meeting of LLCC, Monday 25th August, in person at Duncan Place 6:30pm

The next meeting of LLCC will be next Monday, 25th August, in person at Duncan Place, 6:30 pm

We have 2 speakers:
  • Matthew Farnham, Community Engagement & Operational Communications          Coordinator, Veolia (re Seafield)
  • Architect Joanne McClelland re the Leith Place Plan (in progress)
The meeting is open to interested members of the public.
Get in touch if you would like a link to enable remote attendance.
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