Tag: April

Leith Links Bowling Green Area – Community Consultation

As you will probably be aware if you use the Leith Links Park, the bowling green area and the building itself, most recently referred to as the ‘Dry Dock’, are in a sorry state of disrepair. The community council has been monitoring the situation and we are keen to see the building being renovated and used as an asset for the community along with its surroundings. A report from the Parks and Recreation Dept is being submitted to a meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council in May.
We feel that time is of the essence and that community engagement and consultation is paramount. With this in mind, we have scheduled a meeting via Zoom at 7p.m. on Monday 19th April to give all interested groups and individuals the opportunity to put forward their views on how this space should be best used.
Invitation will be via the Eventbrite ticketing system, please click here to register to receive the Zoom link. We hope to see as many residents of Leith Links taking part as possible.
David Igoe
Convener
Parks and Green Spaces Sub-Committee

 

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We are recruiting two new Community Councillors

Leith Links Community Council are recruiting two new Community Councillors following the resignation of two elected representatives (Who have moved out of the area).

As a result we are inviting interested members of our community to think about volunteering their time, energy, enthusiasm and local knowledge to make a difference in our community.

Any person from the age of sixteen, and listed on the Electoral Register as residing in the Leith Links Community Council area can be co-opted onto the Community Council following a vote by our members.

If you would like to find out more information about becoming one of our Community Councillors please contact us by emailing contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk. Your email will be received by our Chair and Secretary who will liaise with you directly to organise a discussion with you.

Jim Scanlon MBE, Chair of Leith Links Community Council said today;

Leith Links Community Council are keen to fill  two vacancies for councillors following the departure of two members who moved outside the area.

If you want to give something back to your local community and have an interest in a wide range of issues which could include green space/planning/transport then please get in touch with us to find out more.

We have a great well respected team and have a positive social media presence working together with other local community councils to be the voice for local residents in Leith

 

 

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Leith Links Community Council responds to City of Edinburgh Council City Plan 2030 consultation

Leith Links Community Council has submitted its response to the City of Edinburgh Councils City Plan 2030 consultation.

Click on the image to read the response document.

Community Councillors have been working for a number of weeks to understand & respond to the consultation as the product which arises from the Councils work developing City Plan 2030 will have a massive impact upon our communities future for generations to come in areas such as new homes, transport, education and green spaces.

The consultation ran online from 31 January to 30 April 2020 and included a series of drop in events throughout the city.  Originally due to close in March the deadline was extended by the local authority due to the Covid-19 national health crisis.

The Council website pages dedicated to City Plan 2030 includes a brief description of what the City Plan 2030 is;

 

Choices for City Plan 2030 in 200 words

Our next local development plan

 

 

Our city continues to grow. We must manage that growth and make sure everyone can share in our city’s success.

 

Our City Plan 2030 will set out the long-term vision for Edinburgh. It will set out locations for new homes and businesses, protect places of value, and make sure that essentials for a good quality of life – like public transport, schools and green space – are core to our city.

 

Scottish Government requires councils to produce a local development plan. The plan is used to guide decisions on planning applications.

 

We’re planning for a city that is a great place to live, where you don’t need to own a car to move around, where everyone lives in a home which they can afford and where everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing is supported.

 

We’re not starting from scratch – many of the policies in our existing local development plan are working well. The choices outlined for City Plan 2030 looks at key areas for change such as addressing climate change, building affordable housing, short-term lets and student accommodation. They will play a major part in helping us to meet our ambition for a carbon neutral city by 2030.

 

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City of Edinburgh Council announce 21 day closure of Links Gardens

City of Edinburgh Council have announced the closure of Links Gardens, from Gladstone Place to Links Gardens Lanes from 30 April until 21 May 2020.

The road has been closed by the local authority as part of its response to the current Covid-19 national health crisis. The road will remain open to cyclists and pedestrians and is part of efforts to improve the safety of those using the nearby Leith Links for exercise.

Read the City of Edinburgh Council press release by clicking here.

 

 

 

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Trams to Newhaven still scheduled for completion by Spring 2023 despite Covid-19 pandemic

The Trams to Newhaven team have published their latest newsletter which can be read by clicking here.Image result for trams to newhaven logo

Since City of Edinburgh Council made clear its intention to build the tram line from York Place to Newhaven our Leith community has been heavily divided as to whether it is in the public interest to do so, or not.

Despite the ongoing Covid-19 public health emergency the Trams to Newhaven team have assured our community that the project is still scheduled to be completed and
carrying passengers by Spring 2023. Many people would have thought that the ongoing UK & Scottish Government restrictions in place to address the Covid-19 outbreak would have led to delays but the newsletter has quashed that possibility.

 

 

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Police Scotland consultation: Your Police 2020-2021

Police Scotland are inviting members of our community to take part in an online survey entitled ‘your Police 2020-2021’.upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/89/Lo...

Anyone wishing to take part in the survey can do so until 31 March 2021.

The survey also includes a number of questions specifically relating to Police activity during the current Covid-19 National Health Emergency.

In their introductory statements Police Scotland say;

We recognise the importance of understanding the views and priorities of Scotland’s diverse communities. This is especially important during the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This survey is a platform for you to give us your views and opinions during these challenging times, and beyond.

 

The survey will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.

 

We have included some screenshots of questions from the survey to provide a flavour of the types of questions they are asking.

 

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Scottish Water notify community of works which may generate odour

Update: At 11:54 on Friday 24/4/20 Scottish Water informed Leith Links Community Council that the planned works have now been completed.

Scottish Water have today given our community notice of their intention to carry out cleaning works at Seafield on Thursday 22 April 2020. The planned works have the potential to cause nuisance & intrusive odours to affect air quality in our community.

The advance warning has been given following the recent apology issued to our community by Scottish Water & Veolia following a spike in complaints of odour nuisances from local residents.

Bill Elliot, Scottish Waters Stakeholder Development Manager (Scotland) today released the following email:

At the end of March I updated you on tank cleaning activities at Seafield.  Work within the storm tanks was called to a halt after two of the four tanks had been drained and cleaned.  The residual material was left insitu and covered with treated final effluent.  Following a reassessment of the plant operating conditions and associated mitigation measures, the storm tank cleaning will recommence on Thursday 23rd April.  Every effort will be made to complete this work as quickly as possible and to minimise odour, with odour reducing additives being deployed as necessary.

 

I would be grateful if elected members and the Community Council could help and share this message locally so that we can ensure as wide a reach as possible.Note: A copy of this communication can also be found on our website – https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/seafield

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Scottish Water & Veolia issue apology for Seafield stench

Leith Links Community Council has received 37 reports relating to odours from Seafield since 1 April 2020.

 

The community in the Leith Links area has been plagued for years by nuisance & intrusive foul odours from Seafield however, earlier this year it was announced that a multi million pound investment in the Seafield site would likely lead to a reduction in the amount of foul odours affecting our community.

 

Members of our community have been using our website to tell us, local politicians and the authorities how their quality of life has been impacted, some examples are;

 

It made it difficult to breathe and I felt nauseous. Had to close our windows.

 

Had to come in from garden, one of few pleasures in lockdown.

 

Couldn’t exercise and ruined our only time outdoors during the lockdown had to close windows and couldn’t even stand to be in our own garden.

 

It made me feel sick.

In response to recent complaints, followed up by Leith Links Community Council, an apology was issued by Bill Elliot, Stakeholder Development Manager (Scotland), Scottish Water on 15 April 2020.

 

Dear Seafield Stakeholders,

 

 

We have received an increase in odour complaints in the Seafield area recently and Scottish Water and Veolia apologise for this.

 

 

Veolia began essential maintenance of the storm tanks at Seafield WWTW at the start of the current lockdown period. This work was paused as a result of a change in weather conditions and, in consultation with regulators, it was agreed that it would be sensible to complete the remaining essential maintenance at the earliest opportunity.

 

 

In order to mitigate the odour risk that continues until this maintenance is complete, we will take further operational measures over the coming days – including using chemical dosing – in order to help minimise the issue.

 

 

Please be assured we will have this resolved as quickly as possible and we will update stakeholders when this work will be carried out and completed.

 

We thank our customers for their patience.

 

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Community Councils Together on Trams: Note of meeting held on 25 April 2019

Leith Links Community Council is a member of ‘Community Councils Together on Trams’ alongside Leith Central Community Council, Leith Harbour & Newhaven Community Council and New Town & Broughton Community Council. CCTT is the coalition of Community Councils who meet regularly to discuss, scrutinise and influence the intended continuation of the Edinburgh Tram system to Newhaven.

1. Welcome, introductions, minutes

2. Update TT team

a. Progress on CEC work on multi-year environmental cost/benefits post-tram

  • Noted: this is being progressed by Hannah Ross (HR) who will advise

b. Confirmation of official ECI period (given the delayed mobilisation)

Noted: ECI is underway, but not all senior contractor staff are in Edinburgh. ECI will end 9 October 2019. Lane closures with heras and barrier will commence from 10 October 2019. To confirm the track slab design the contractor will carry out ground and site investigation along the route[note i]. This will be carried out via trail holes and bores. These works will be carried out under minor traffic management lasting on average 5 days per location.

  • Noted: DW as ‘in-house’ stakeholder rep, and contractors are co-locating to 200 Bonnington Rd (200BR) for the period (perhaps beyond); other members of TT: HR (ca 1 day at 200BR) and RL (as required at 200BR) based at their respective main offices. New TT communication person is being recruited. Client team includes CEC tram team, Anturas, Turner Townsend, Atkins.
  • Agreed: DW to provide diagram of all entities and key personnel involved and glossary of acronyms
  • Noted: detailed trader logistics survey in progress; more info at next meeting

3. Update CCTT

  • Noted: HT had meetings with Paul Lawrence, Hannah Ross and George Lowder to prepare the ground for CCTT/TT meetings during ECI period
  • Noted: the role of the Traffic Management Review Panel (TMRP): includes representation of some but not all relevant groups (e.g. pedestrians and bus passengers – as opposed to bus operator – don’t have a dedicated voice)[note ii]
  • Agree ‘shopping list’ (see below) priority, scope, input required, date decision required
  • Agreed: see bold items in table below

4. Agree future meeting dates during ECI period

  • Agreed: monthly meetings at 200BR on last THU, apart May (date tbc) and July (holiday[note iii]): 29 (tbc) May, 27 June, 29 August, 26 September; meetings beyond September TBA
  • Agreed: due to pace of mobilisation, to meet contractors’ senior staff at June meeting
  • Agreed: to keep an eye on Constitution Street fixing points and pre-works
Priority Topic (subtopic) Scope Input required from Date decision required
TTROs in wider corridor (i.e. including diversion routes and their side streets) There will be a blanket road works embargo.
May meeting business logistics[note iv] TT will share analysis of survey.
bus diversions/stops: this will need LB input The role of TMRP was noted.
Detailed design:
May Meeting: DW to provide info on tracker timing Bus stops/shelters (this will need LB and maybe JCD input) Any bespoke shelters to be provided by JCD; integration with new tracker system (if any) to be confirmed.
June meeting with Gareth Barwell Communal bin locations along the route: may require some infrastructure (example: Albert Street) and changed waste collections procedures (regularity, times outwith tram operation hours) ‘95% complete’
‘open’ (CCTT definition) design items at Shrub Pl, Constitution Street (we discussed best approach) and Ocean Terminal bus logistics and access to private road ‘Shrub Place design issues are a locality issue and are not being dealt with by the project’; Ocean Terminal issue has been resolved
construction period: monitoring/quality control, reporting, communications To be discussed in more detail in future
Utilities: embargo on non-emergency work in wider area (?); clear deadline to complete other work during ECI There is a blanket embargo on such works.

[i] HT note: I seem to recall that exploratory digs would occupy only one lane and last 48 hrs max

[ii] DW note: Major roadworks across the city are coordinated and managed via the City Wide Traffic Management Group (CWTMG); to assist with this process a dedicated Trams to Newhaven Traffic Management Review Panel (TMRP) has been established. Membership of this group is similar to the CWTMG including Emergency Services, Transport Operators and Council Officers. Although not on the approving body, traffic management will be discussed with the Active Travel Forum which has membership from Living Streets, Spokes, Edinburgh Access Panel, Transform Scotland and Sustrans.

[iii] HT note: this leaves only four meetings to address a hefty ‘shopping list’

[iv] While operators contacted by SLTN were all positive about the project, they expressed concern about disruption to deliveries as well as a general drop in footfall for the duration of the works. Communication from the council was said to be key.
Garry Clark, development manager for Edinburgh at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Local businesses need to be able to plan in order to mitigate the impacts that the tram extension will have upon their businesses. “Whilst the council has gone out to businesses early this time around, firms are telling us that they need clarity on the timescale of the work to enable them to put these plans in place. (https://sltn.co.uk/2019/04/18/council-must-be-vocal-on-trams)

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