Tag: 2026

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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Controlled Parking Zone, Easter Road Area?!

The Council is moving forward with proposed parking restrictions all around the Easter Road area. 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 ‘formally advertised’, feedback is being sought from local residents and businesses. There will be two drop in sessions at Norton Park Business Centre, 57 Albion Road, on:

  • 25 August 2026, 2-7pm
  • 27 August 2026, 2-7pm

Please go along and make your views known on the scheme. It’s not just ‘for?’ or ‘against?’ (inded there is already a presumption it will go ahead – unless, presumably, there is a Portobello-sized backlash against it from the community…), it is about studying the plans carefully and spotting any mistakes or things that will not work, on each specific street, and making suggestions for improvements.

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

If this scheme goes ahead, parking will inevitably be displaced into the streets in the immediately adjoining area, i.e. Lochend/Ryehill (mysteriously referred to as ‘West Leith’ by the Council) and then pressure will be on for a Controlled Parking Zone to be brought in there as well (it is next on the list for this  ‘Phase 2’ of new CPZs, marked in blue on the map below)  – and then the next again area, and on it goes……  so it is really important that residents in the Leith Links area all pay attention to this and have a say in the planning.

Please go to one of the drop-in sessions to inform yourself, and to make your views known!

     

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Latest news about THAT bus-stop!

From the City of Edinburgh Council, Leith Connections team leader

Dear ward and adjacent Councillors, Convenor and Community Councillors,

Please accept my apologies for the delay to bringing the Kirkgate bus stop on Great Junction Street into use following completion of works on that street at the end of last year. Further work will commence on Monday 29 June meaning the bus stop will be able to be brought into use before the end of July.

A number of you have been in contact with me and Lothian Buses about this stop on behalf of residents. (YES, WE JOLLY WELL HAVE!!!!!!)

Following construction, Lothian Buses raised concerns about the communal bin hub being located on the approach to the bus stop in this location. I was keen to avoid re-work to our installed works and explored various alternatives with Lothian Buses and waste colleagues. We will reposition the hub slightly, locally reducing the width of cycle track. We will also install an additional surface water gully to remedy some minor areas of ponding noted due to the shallow gradient of the street.

The footway will remain open throughout the work but the cycle track will be closed with signage back at relevant junction. The carriageway will be locally narrowed during the works.

The attached leaflet has been distributed to business and residents fronting on this stretch of Great Junction Street.

Apologies again and thanks for your patience.

Regards,

Miles

Miles Wilkinson
miles.wilkinson@edinburgh.gov.uk

Senior Project Manager

Tel: 07563 376595

Active Travel Team, City of Edinburgh Council

G.4 Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG

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