Tag: 2026

Warning – major and disruptive roadworks coming soon to our area!

Major Roadworks are starting soon along Seafield Road, Salamander Street and Baltic Street – see the Council page (link below) for full details. The first phase starts on Monday 2nd November at Seafield and the full programme of works will gradually progress along from east to west along Salamander, towards Bernard Street.

Undoubtedly this will massively impact all the streets in our area, as all traffic including large lorries will be diverted along Claremont Park / Duke Street /Great Junction Street (and in some cases, even up round via Moira Terrace, Craigentinny and Restalrig Road!). So, many of us in Leith Links will need to plan our journeys well ahead and leave plenty of extra time. We have not yet heard as to whether Lothian Buses (e.g. No. 1, No. 34) will be affected, so it might be wise to keep checking on these before you set off – some routes may be diverted or even cancelled, and others may be diverted and/or journey times increased.

It is concerning that the Community Council was not consulted or informed on any of this – although we could not prevent it (and certainly the road surfaces and pavements etc. do need attention), we could at least have explored /suggested mitigation (such as suspending the bus-gate on Links Place) and given local residents and businesses better advance warning. (We only found out about it this morning as did many others, via ‘I Love Leith’ on Facebook – surely that’s not the best way for a Council to keep its citizens informed!?)

Details of the roadworks programme are here:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/road-projects-improvements/seafield-road-salamander-street-baltic-street-improvements

Check for bus diversions etc. here: https://www.lothianbuses.com/service-updates/

Trial of 7:7:7 bus lane along London Road corridor, will this affect you?

Please be aware of a new trial starting of a bus lane operating on a 7:7:7 basis (7 days a week, from 7am to 7pm) along the traffic corridor from Leith Street / Leith Walk along London Road towards Portobello. (bus routes include 4, 5, 15, 26, 44, 45, 106, 113, 124, X4, X5 and X7). This may affect your journey  / journey times, or your parking or loading practices.
LLCC has received the following information from the Council:

The Bus Lane Trial between Milton Road East and London Road is scheduled to start on 12 October 2026.
Signage, lining and advanced warning signs will be installed ahead of the project going live.
Detailed below is an overview of the trial with further details available on the project webpages.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the project team.

Case for a Trial

Reasons behind this trial include:

  1. Bus demand on key radial and orbital corridors is growing across Edinburgh and the region,
  2. Travel behaviour has changed since 2019 meaning delays are no longer limited to the traditional peak periods (when existing bus lanes operate), and
  3. Bus journey times are steadily increasing with data analysis showing that that since 2019 bus journey times on the A1 have increased by 22%.

The trial is also a commitment from the City Mobility Plan following improvements to public transport being strongly supported during consultation.

A key part of assessing this trial will be its impact on residents, and business access for customers, deliveries, and collections. This route is a major public transport corridor with parking and loading restrictions already in place, which will now be amended from 12 October 2026.

Monitoring analysis will include bus journey times, traffic surveys, parking and loading surveys, business surveys, along with feedback from residents and other stakeholders.

Assessment of impacts

The trial will be introduced through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) for a period of 18 months. The ETRO provides an opportunity to monitor the effects of the changes and gather evidence before recommendations are made on the longer-term arrangements.

Access, Parking, & Loading Restrictions

These are quite detailed and can be found listed on the Council website at https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/buses-coaches/bus-lane-trial/4

Blue badge holders

Blue Badge holders will continue to be able to use their Blue Badge in accordance with the Blue Badge scheme. However, they must comply with loading restrictions and cannot park where a loading restriction is in force as detailed on the web site.

Engagement, Communications and Next Steps

Engagement in advance of this trial has included resident and business letter drops, a dedicated business information event and public drop-in sessions.

An Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) has also been completed as part of the development of the trial. The IIA will be reviewed throughout the duration of the trial. The IIA can be viewed on the project webpages.

The first six months of the trial period serve as a consultation period, providing the public and businesses with an opportunity to submit formal comments, objections, or support for the trial at any point during that period. These findings will be reported to Transport and Environment Committee. Please note the ETRO will formally go live on Monday 12 October 2026 at which point opinions can be submitted in writing or via email to:

Traffic Orders
3.3 Waverley Court
4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG

Email:TRO.Consultations@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

What should the Leith Links area be like in the future? Your views, please?

What should our lovely Leith Links area look like in the future? (Or, NOT look like?)
Full of Apart-Hotels, short term lets, student accommodation, HMOs? Or a balanced mixture of homes, shops, cafes and other businesses?
Edinburgh City Council has launched a “Call for Ideas” for the next round of City Planning (2040) See https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/cityplanideas/
The consultation is currently live online but closes on September 30th. Please will you have a look, and put in your own ideas and views?
We know from bitter experience, here at the Community Council, that objections to planning applications that don’t seem healthy for our area all too often just get ignored/ rejected by the Council and the Scottish Government Reporter. Frustratingly, the developers just always seem to get their way. That’s because it’s too late (because the policies governing the decisions were made 15 years ago, when the City Plan 2025 was being drawn up!)
So what we need to do NOW, to prevent unwanted planning decisions in the future, is to try to influence the NEXT round of policies before they are made/finalised.
It’s hard to get your head round thinking 15 years ahead, but what will happen in 2040 needs to have been thought of and fed into the council planning process NOW!
The consultation closes on 30th September, so time is tight. 
Please  – however brief  – can you send in a response asap? At:

Free film screening, Leith Links 28th September – re climate emergency

Our sister Community Council, Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council is screening the film ‘People’s Emergency Briefing’ on 28 September at 19:00 at St. James Episcopal Church, Leith Links.
Tickets / seats are free but limited so please book in advance. Bring a friend, neighbour or family member: everyone is welcome. Coffee, tea and biscuits will be provided.
Link to Tickets: https://buytickets.at/leithharbourandnewhavencommunitycouncil/2409360
After the film there will be an open discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally.

What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it mean for everyday life in the UK?

Join us for a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing – an eye-opening 50-minute film bringing together nine leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like:
🌧️ Extreme weather
🍞 Food security
🏥 Health
💷 Cost of living
The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK. Learn more at www.nebriefing.org
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If after booking you are unable to attend, we’d be very grateful if you could let us know so that we can re-allocate your ticket to someone else.
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Leith Local History Society

This little group puts on a series of fascinating talks of local interest starting this month and all through the winter season – see more details here

Meetings are monthly, on Tuesdays at 7pm in the Leith Community Centre, New Kirkgate

All welcome (£2 per talk for non-members, or £12 annual membership / £6 for students)

 

 

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Controlled Parking Zones in the pipeline…

The Council is currently consulting on proposed parking restrictions all around the Easter Road / Albion Road / St. Clair area. If approved, it means that permits will have to be bought by local residents and businesses, and otherwise parking will have to be paid for, 8:30am-5:30pm Monday-Friday.

Before this scheme is opened for ‘formal’ consultation, feedback is being sought informally from local residents and businesses. I’m assured that the current map and plan is not carved in stone, and that changes to the plans can/will be implemented if local people ask pertinent questions, raise meaningful objections, make sensible suggestions. There is one more drop in session at Norton Park Business Centre, 57 Albion Road, on Thursday 27 August 2026, 2-7pm. Please do go along to find out more and make your views known on the scheme.

There are relatively few residents in the area which is largely occupied by Hibs stadium and Lochend Park, but those that are there are finding it very difficult to park anywhere near their homes due to  – apparently – commuter parking and people from out of the area (possibly from the nearby Leith Walk area and Abbeyhill  colonies area, which now have a CPZ).

I went along to the drop-in session earlier this week and found it very helpful to talk to the Council officers there about how the whole process works (which will be useful to prepare us for later). At this early stage, the proposal is not a ‘done deal’, it is an information seeking exercise. I found the staff ready to discuss wider / future issues such as knock-on effects on nearby areas, and open to hearing views on these, sooner rather than later. (I was also reassured to hear that although some of the original planning designs were done by a London consultant, the current detailed plans are all done in-house by prople who know the area well, and that they are trying hard to reduce the overall use of consultants.)

There are 6 different local schemes in the same pipeline (known as Phase 2), being dealt with in batches of 2 at a time (priority given to those with highest ‘occupancy’ rate (of available parking spaces, as measured by earlier surveys. ‘High’ occupancy means over 70% of available spaces occupied, ‘Low’ is below 40% of spaces occupied. Averaged across the whole area)

  1. Easter Road / Albion area and Bonnington Road area
  2. Willowbrae area and Roseburn area
  3. Lochend area and Restalrig area

They won’t get around to the third batch (our area) until about February 2027, but it will be helpful for us all to be well prepared in advance. I believe they said that even the first areas on the list won’t be implemented until all 6 have been consulted on, which is helpful as it means that the later ones will not have a slow sequential knock-on effect of overflow parking from the earlier ones (they’ll all have a sudden onslaught at the same time!)

It is really important that residents in the Leith Links area all pay attention to this and have a say in the planning at early stages,  so we should pay attention to all of the information and consultation sessions from now on, over the next year.

Leith Links Community Council will be working on behalf of local residents to find out more about peoples views (possibly confusingly mixed…) and potential issues that need bringing to the Council’s attention, so please do get in touch with your thoughts and ideas at any time, via Email: contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

Read more here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parking/strategic-parking-review-1/3

Sally Millar, Secretary, LLCC

Invitation to businesses in Leith affected by the tram failure

The Community Council received the following letter. Please reply to Rebecca’s invitation directly if you wish to participate (i.e. not to the Community Council).

Following the fire at the former Debenhams building on Princes Street and the resulting disruption to travel and footfall, recovery funding has been made available to support businesses and encourage activity across Leith, The Shore and Newhaven.

More By The Shore is a new Forever Edinburgh destination campaign designed to support recovery by encouraging residents and visitors to explore the area, stay longer and spend locally.

We’re now inviting businesses across Leith, The Shore and Newhaven to get involved completely free of charge.

We’re also asking our partners and stakeholders to share this opportunity with businesses and organisations across your networks to help us reach as many local businesses in these areas as possible.

Want to find out more?

We know this is relatively short notice, but we’re keen to get the campaign moving and start getting the message out to businesses as quickly as possible.

We’re holding an online business briefing on Wednesday 26th at 10am, where we’ll provide more information about the campaign, the opportunities available and how businesses can get involved.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/310013494453184?p=UlLK70oo5AACNmOTrH

Meeting ID: 310 013 494 453 184

Passcode: eh38zV36

Depending on attendance and feedback from Wednesday’s session, we may also arrange a further online or face-to-face session at a later date.

What is More By The Shore?

The campaign will showcase the businesses, experiences and places that make Leith and Newhaven special through a programme of seasonal activity, incentives and storytelling.

Whether you’re a restaurant, café, bar, shop, attraction, beauty business, accommodation provider or experience business, there are opportunities to take part.

There’s no cost to participate, and businesses can choose the opportunities that work best for them.

How can businesses get involved?

Leith Leisure Trail (working title)– launching this year

A new trail celebrating the businesses, flavours and experiences that make Leith and Newhaven unique.

Businesses could get involved through:

  • Leith Exclusives – unique products, dishes, drinks or experiences.
  • Offers and incentives – special offers or added-value experiences.
  • Things to see, do and experience – helping visitors and residents discover more of the area.

More By The Shore at Christmas – November/December 2026

We’ll showcase the best of Leith and Newhaven through festive content, offers and incentives.

Businesses can get involved through:

  • More By The Shore for Less – joining the festive voucher scheme.
  • Christmas offers and experiences – sharing your festive activity with us to be featured in campaign content.
  • Forever Edinburgh promotion – opportunities to be featured in festive guides and wider campaign activity.

More By The Shore in 2027 – January/February 2027

We’re also developing activity for the New Year, including:

  • Resident voucher activity – exploring a Resident Rewards Edinburgh voucher scheme for EH postcode holders, subject to final confirmation.
  • After 5 – showcasing Leith and Newhaven after dark, including evening dining, entertainment, live music, screenings, workshops and other winter experiences.

We’re also developing a business toolkit that businesses will be able to use to help promote the campaign themselves.

Why get involved?

  • Reach new audiences and get your business in front of residents and visitors looking for things to do, eat, drink, shop and experience.
  • Help drive footfall and be part of activity designed to encourage more people to visit and spend locally.
  • Showcase what makes you different and highlight your products, experiences, events and offers.
  • Participating businesses will receive free promotion and benefit from campaign content, digital promotion, social media, PR and wider Forever Edinburgh marketing activity.
  • Be part of something bigger and join a collective campaign showcasing Leith, The Shore and Newhaven as one of Edinburgh’s most exciting destinations.

Find out more and sign up for free: MORE BY THE SHORE – Forever Edinburgh

Please share this opportunity with businesses in your networks and encourage them to get involved.

Business engagement taking place across the area

From this week, a team of Council officers will also be visiting businesses across Leith, Newhaven and The Shore.

The purpose of these visits is to better understand the impact businesses are experiencing, hear directly from local businesses and make sure they are aware of the support and opportunities available. If a member of the team visits your business, we’d really welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

We’re looking forward to working with businesses, partners and stakeholders across Leith, The Shore and Newhaven to help make More By The Shore a success.

Warmest wishes

Rebecca Burnett

Rebecca Burnett |Business Growth Talent Development and Lead| | The City of Edinburgh Council | Waverley Court, Level 1:4, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG | Tel 0131 529 6649 | Mob 07710385214 | Fax 0131 529 6207 | rebecca.burnett@edinburgh.gov.uk |  www.edinburgh.gov.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

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Next meeting Leith Links Community Council, Monday, 31 August, 6:30pm, Duncan Place

The next meeting of the Leith Links Community Council will be next Monday, 31 August at 6:30pm at Duncan Place, in-person.

All members of the local community are welcome to attend these meetings.
There will be a link published here nearer the time for anyone needing to join remotely.
BUT BEFORE THEN  – Big new things are starting to happen in our area, please go along if you can to two Council consultations aiming to collect feedback and local people’s views on: 
1. re Two proposed new Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in the Easter Road area and the Lochend/Restalrig Road area.(These would also have a knock-on effect on the area further east – Claremont, Pirniefield, Prospectbank, all around Restalrig, into Craigentinny)
To find out more and to give your views, drop in to Norton Park Business Centre, 57 Albion Road, on one or other of the following days:

  • 25 August 2026, 2-7pm
  • 27 August 2026, 2-7pm
2. re A large new housing block (previously intended for student accommodation) purchased by Council to house 200+ homeless people on Manderston St./Halmyre Street. The council will be consulting local people, at a drop-in session at Classroom 1, Leith Academy 6-8pm, on Tuesday August 25th.
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Beautiful Toilets!

The public toilets on Leith Links are now delightfully transformed! (And, importantly,  actually open and functioning properly at last!) Make it your mission to drop by and see Leith’s latest artwork as soon as you can. This beautiful mural was painted by Leith artist Shona Hardie, and funded largely by the Council, with a significant contribution from Leith Links Community Council with money donated by the film-makers of Dept.Q TV series, who filmed there (and closed the road for a day!).

 

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Please tell us about your travel, since the Princes Street fire….

If you live or work in the Leith Links area, or own/run a business here, please tell us how you have been affected by the fire on Princes Street, and getting around the town since then? For example, getting to work? Do you use bus/car/ bike/walking more, to replace tram? What is bus travel like, for you? Getting to social/leisure activities? Are customers reaching your business? Or anything else you want to tell us about? Please get in touch asap, so we can pass this on to the Council. Email: contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

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