by

LHNCC February 2023 minutes

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council ordinary meeting, on Tuesday 28 February 2023 at 6:30pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. Nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against an item.

1 Introductions and apologies for absence

1.a Present

Elaine Dick LHNCC Douglas Tharby LHNCC PC Christopher Casselden Police Scotland
Don Giles LHNCC Neil Tulloch LHNCC ~3 residents/visitors
Jennifer Marlborough LHNCC Bruce Ryan minutes secretary
Gerry Rooney LHNCC Cllr Chas Booth Leith ward

1.b Apologies for absence

Jim Preacher LHNCC Ben Macpherson MSP Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Arthur Young LHNCC Deidre Brock MP Edinburgh North and Leith

2 Declaration of interests

none

3 Minutes of November 2022 meeting

Accepted as-is (proposed J Marlborough, seconded N Tulloch, nem con)

4 Matters arising (and not on agenda)

none

5 Police report

See supplied report https://lhncc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023_02_28-police.pdf or text in appendix 1 below.

  • Police are investigating the Jenners fire, aiding the Fire and Rescue Service. They attended the fire officer’s funeral.
  • ~95% of the calls about missing persons were concerns for missing persons, rather than individual missing persons. Police are now contacting mental health services straightaway. Where there are concerns about suicide, police are trying to contact the people concerned immediately.
  • The loud music calls were not about licensed premises but were from neighbours.
  • Most calls are about individual instances, except maybe for calls about public nuisance.
  • There was an incident of tire-deflation at a private parking area in Annfield. No suspect has been identified.
  • E Dick: Constitution St houses have suffered from graffiti during the tramworks, while the street was unlit. This graffiti apparently cannot be cleaned off by CEC because it is not hate-messages.
    • PC Casselden: there have been no reports of graffiti this month. However, solvency rates are probably low because of lack of clear CCTV recordings or witnesses. CEC does not fund removal of graffiti except for hate messages, which police would deal with immediately. Police will patrol Constitution St now it is open.

6 Councillor/MSP/MP reports

6.a Cllr Booth

6.a.i Report

  • CEC set its budget last week: council tax will increase by 5%. There will be some funding for CEC climate officers. The ‘no compulsory redundancies’ policy will end. There may be some privatisations of CEC services.
  • The strategic review of parking is going ahead. See https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parkingreview.
  • CEC’s TEC should receive a report on Leith Connections next week. The whole CEC process may well take some months and a public enquiry. There was a strong majority in favour of ideas behind LC in a previous consultation.

6.a.ii Q&A

  • Why are so many short-term lets planning applications coming through?
    • It is now very clear that planning permission needed is needed for all STLs because all of Edinburgh is an STL control area. Applications are handled based on their compliance with the local development plan. (Since 14 February, this has included National Planning Framework 4. NPF4’s policy 30 presumes against STLs that would lead to loss of housing.) Prior to 14 February, STL applications were generally assessed around loss of amenity.
    • Any that have been operating without permission for 10 years or more receive ‘deemed consent’.
  • Box-junction road markings at Ocean Drive/Lindsay Road junction have not been repainted. Box-junction road markings at North Leith Sands have been tarmacked over, severely hindering ingress/egress
    • Action: Cllr Booth to inquire about this
  • Many bus-stops are being removed, leading to longer distances between stops. It is difficult to obtain relevant information. Leith Connections may remove bus lanes. Temporary traffic lights on Ocean Drive are causing delays.

7 Chair, Secretary and Treasurer reports

7.a Chair (D Tharby)

See report in appendix 2.

  • I am concerned about planning applications not being halted while tram construction is in progress.
  • I attended and enjoyed the FOWLB AGM.

7.b Treasurer (D Tharby)

See report in appendix 3.

7.c Secretary (J Marlborough)

  • Granton Station Square opening party is on 11 March (11am to 2pm)
  • Forth Ports will relay cobbles by the shops at Newhaven Harbour next week

7.d Leith Rotary

See report at https://lhncc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023_02_28-rotary.pdf

7.e Seafield

See report at https://lhncc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023_02_28-seafield.pdf

8 Residents’ queries and issues

See item 6.a.ii above.

9 Planning (including discussion on Ocean Point 2: Community Consultation Event 2)

See report in item 19.a below. All points were made by J Marlborough unless otherwise noted.

  • There are concerns about planning applications/exhibitions being online only, with no way to phone developers.

9.a Dockside (previously known as Skyliner)

9.b Coallie Park

  • E Dick: building here is likely to be quite minimal. I support addition of parking for disabled people. I do not support the amount of tree-felling.
    • Action: E Dick to circulate presentation given at FOWLB AGM

9.c Linksview

  • The application has been improved. (There had been concerns about removal of housing.)

9.d Western Harbour park

  • CEC will not maintain this park, despite it being public. Instead, nearby residents of new buildings will be charged.
    • G Rooney: residents are unlikely to be aware of this liability: it was in ages-old conditions.
    • Action: Cllr Booth to pursue information on how this would work

10 Licensing

No items raised.

11 Transport

See report in item 19.b below. All points made by J Marlborough unless otherwise noted.

  • There is general dissatisfaction that changes are being made before the trams start running.
    • Services are due to be running in late June, but not all landscaping work has been done, and there is much snagging to complete. There are major concerns about the banned left turn from Leith Walk to London Rd.
  • EBUG will meet soon.
    • Mobility hubs (transport integrations) are being trialled in other areas of Edinburgh.
    • E Dick/D Tharby: There is no bus service from Leith to Portobello, but the city circulation plan suggests there will be.
    • Action: J Marlborough to circulate relevant documentation

12 Environment

  • E Dick/J Marlborough: I attended ‘save Western Harbour ponds’ meeting. An action plan is being developed due to concerns about loss of habitat. Planning applications lasting 10 years were approved in 2005. An extension was then granted but now has expired. Hence a new, application that complies with the local development plan is needed.
  • E Dick: I am pursuing replacement of trees felled because of tram-works.
  • D Giles: FOWLB‘s AGM took place on 9 February. FOWLB is trying to persuade CEC to replace cobbles at the Shore, because this is a conservation area so like-for-like replacement should be undertaken. (There was discussion of who would undertake this work, and of other nearby dilapidations due to, for example, pavement parking.)
  • A resident: SOSLeith looks forward to meeting new FOWLB office bearers. It is raising public awareness of sewage in the Leith basins, and will work with Edinburgh Napier University on this. It received good coverage in the Glasgow Herald.

13 Community

LeithChooses awards night took place on 15th February. 12 projects out of 20 were funded.

14 AOB

Gerry Rooney was co-opted onto LHNCC.

15 Date of next meeting

Tuesday 28 March 2023

16 Appendix 1: text of police report

16.a Breakdown of calls in north Leith/Newhaven area for stats for period 24/01/23-27/02/23 (approx 264 in total)*:

  • 17 calls relating to public nuisance
  • 7 neighbour disputes
  • 10 calls of theft/housebreaking
  • 16 domestic-related calls
  • 7 calls of other violence
  • 1 incident with hate motivation
  • 5 loud noise/music-related calls
  • 40 concern-for/missing person calls
  • 5 drug-related calls

16.b Some notable actions/events/incidents

  • On 3rd February, Police attended at Victoria Quay Basin following reports that a person may have fallen into the water to the rear of the Scottish Government building. Extensive enquiries were carried out including focussed foot patrols, door-to-door and CCTV and it was confirmed that a person had fallen into the water. There was a significant and coordinated multi-agency response including Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Coastguard, City of Edinburgh Council and Forth Ports. A perimeter cordon was established to preserve the locus and on 5th February a body was recovered by the Police Dive Team. Identification was made through photo ID recovered on the body. There were no signs of suspicious conduct and no other persons were sought in connection with the incident.
  • On 13th December 2022, a number of vehicles had their tyres let down whilst parked at a private residents parking area at Annfield Street. Enquiries were carried out at various streets in the vicinity and, while the perpetrator was unable to be identified, it was established that this was an isolated incident relating to a local parking dispute. Local Police officers liaised with the relevant housing & property management agencies to look at different approaches to increase parking security for residents and awareness of local private parking areas. Please could all local residents of Leith ensure that they and their visitors adhere to private parking notices where relevant.
  • Following reports of drug-taking and antisocial behaviour by youths at Gosford Place, we have been conducting focussed foot patrols in the area. On 25th January, a group of youths were stopped and searched for drugs at Stedfastgate and found to have personal amounts of cannabis in their possession. They were returned to their home addresses and dealt with accordingly under the relevant Police procedures.
  • On 22nd February, we participated in a multi-agency pop-up event at Leith Theatre in partnership with Edinburgh Food Project to provide advice and service-signposting in relation to issues such as energy crisis, housing, internet safety, foodbanks, pet care, carer support, warm & safe spaces, employability, financial issues and advocacy.

16.c Plans ahead:

  • We shall continue to be deployed to various parts of the city as part of the Police’s response to linked incidents of violence in order to deter and disrupt organised criminality through increased patrols.
  • Over the coming weeks, we shall be attending various public events including Hearts-Rangers football match (8th March), Hearts- Celtic football match (11th March) and Scotland-Ireland international rugby match (12th March).
  • From 24th March, we are running a weekly event in partnership with YMCA, The Ripple Project, Edinburgh Leisure, Hibernian Football Club and local schools for youths aged 8-12 years from the local area. Every Friday evening, the youths will be guided through a variety of team-building exercises and confidence work through sports, with the venue rotating every 3 weeks.
  • On 25th March, we are holding Emergency Services Day at Victoria Quay in partnership with other emergency services, our partners and third sector colleagues. At this free family event, we aim to:
    • provide essential community safety advice and education
    • provide accessibility to all services and break down barriers
    • encourage careers within all services, both salaried and volunteering
    • raise awareness of the issue of violence towards emergency service workers and partners

16.d About Us

Local Area Commander: Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal

Leith Community Policing Team based at Leith Police Station: Inspector Colin Fordyce, Sergeant Sam Rose, Your local Community Beat Officer for NL26: Constable Chris Casselden, plus 8 other officers dedicated to community issues in Leith

16.d.i Contact Us:

  • Phone: 101 for non emergencies
  • Email: edinburghcptnortheast@Scotland.pnn.police.uk
  • Twitter: @EdinPolNe
  • Facebook: Edinburgh Police Division
  • Web: http://www.scotland.police.uk

17 Appendix 2: chair’s report (D Tharby)

We had a very good presentation by a developer at our last meeting on 24th January and I hope that this will set the trend for the future. We hope to keep in touch with the company as the works progress.

It has been an interesting month. Our tramways are now powered up, stations with seating and indeed traffic from last week now runs both ways again on Leith Walk. The perhaps unseasonal weather has brought the spring flowers in our gardens and parks to life and yet we are still in winter and there are cold nights. I am told that the public’s response to the ‘warm and welcoming spaces’ has turned out to be a bit less than was expected perhaps in a way this is good news.

On a less positive note, I have just returned from a shopping trip to a well-known supermarket retailer and witnessed a customer restricting her shopping to a specific amount as she watched the screen at the till. A gentle reminder that we still have a ‘cost of living’ crisis and that many households will be finding things that bit more difficult. The shortage of tomatoes and cucumbers may not be the problem although there are tales of panic buying around. Eggs seem to be more available now.

I attended the monthly EACC meeting on 23rd February with various guest speakers from the City of Edinburgh Council. I took the opportunity to question the CPZ (Controlled Parking Zone) extension into our area and the LTN (Low Traffic Neighbourhood) planned for Leith but to little avail at it appears that they will both be going ahead despite our reservations and objections expressed. Just why these could not have waited until the tram extension was in operation makes no sense at all.

A man drowning in the Victoria Dock is very concerning regardless of the circumstances involved. With a major focus on waterside developments at tonight’s meeting and beyond , being re visited from some time ago, perhaps more questions should be asked of new developers about safety arrangements.

The port will also get busier with Freeport and Greenport agreement with plans specific to 2023. I noted the other day that there are signs of activity around the Imperial Dock with construction vehicles and a crane now visible.

I visited Dundee the other day and spent some time in its rejuvenated dock area, V & A and Discovery Point. Just shows you what can be done with both a sensitivity to the heritage of the area combined with the development of residential and commercial opportunities giving a new lease of life. Let us hope that the vision for our Harbour 31 (Edinburgh Dock) can strike a similar balance.

Sadly there is still COVID and FLU about and although face coverings are not seen so often the virus are still with us but as I have reminded us that Leithers are Resilient and we will see this through.

Stay well, stay warm and safe.

Douglas J Tharby, Chair

18 Appendix 3: treasurer’s report (D Tharby)

The current balance in the Bank Account is £756·55 based on the last Statement dated 26th January, 2023.

We have recently paid the ICO £35·00 and with our Minute production at £30·00, our regular payment to IONOS at £14·40 our true balance is £677·15

19 Appendix 4: secretary’s report

19.a Planning

19.a.i Dockside (Skyliner) PAN application Public Consultation 2 – 23/2/23

  • https://oceandriveedinburgh.co.uk/public-consultation/
  • If you are unable to access information on this website, please contact Pentland Communications on 07484659545 and they can arrange for it to reach you by an alternative manner.
  • Closing date for responses – 16/3/23
  • Concerns regarding continued plan to increased height of Block A by 5 storeys and additional 45 Units for BTR.
  • No apparent play area for children and other changes to public areas
  • Requested in person meeting and presentation in early March. Date/s and arrangements will be sent by developer.
  • Application for variation – Concerns:
  • Building heights reduced without changes to internal ceiling heights – ? Fire safety
  • Omission of Balconies and space internalised within building – more space/working from home
  • Window widths amended/removed to improve U-values – to to improve hear retention ? loss of light

19.a.ii Land At Coalie Park To The South Of Coburg Street Edinburgh

  • 23/00467/FUL
  • Improvements to a public park including changing pavement surface type, formalising parking area, tree planting and demolishing portion of retaining wall to replacing with seating area.
  • I received notification for above and attaching link for information.
  • To be discussed and commented on at our February meeting. This will also be included in my full report to all groups that will be sent out to all on 27/2/23.
  • The improvements to Coalie Park proposed form a part of a project to upgrade the entire park area. This sub-project has been designed to improve the accessibility of the existing paths, create a more attractive, safer environment for users and improvement biodiversity. Furthermore, the improvement aims to promote active travel in the area for leisure and everyday journeys.
  • There are only 16 documents and the design statement has full details
  • Closing date: Fri 10 Mar 2023

19.a.iii 23 Water Street Edinburgh EH6 6SU 22/06426/FUL

  • Change of use from warehouse to aparthotel including alteration and extension, landscaping and associated works.
  • The presentation and discussion that followed was discussed and it was agreed to support application at January meeting. A letter of support has been submitted. This will be available on our website.

19.a.iv Linksview/26 Tolbooth Wynd (Giles St)

  • This proposal is for demolition of 21 Flats, and also the demolition of 25 garage lockups and the plinth area with under Croft parking
  • Public improvement works surrounding the site include landscaping and the provision of amenity spaces with furniture/seating for both private and public use.
  • A total of 54 trees within site are proposed to be removed. This area raises concerns that we’re committed in in our earlier response to original application in 2018. I received notice that this has been listed for consideration with this recent application.

19.a.v Harbour Homes (PoLHA) – 2 Ocean Drive

  • Amendments to previous approved planning permission to accommodate Tram Route at 2 Ocean Drive and cancellation of completion occupation date that has expired.
  • Planning application is for a total of 57 Flats (36 Social housing & 39 Mid-market Rent
  • We supported original application and would expect to continue with this response.

19.a.vi Ocean Point 2 – 2nd Public Consultation – Tuesday 7 March 2023

  • Completed online response to 1st Consultation submitted online

19.a.vii Ocean Terminal Phase 2

  • We submitted objection response in January following time extension approved by Kenneth Bowes, CEC Senior Planner.
  • The master plan includes a total of 580 mixed affordable, BTR, and private homes for sale around a large green space, with the properties designed to maximise views over the Firth of Forth.
  • Edinburgh Urban design Panel raised serious concerns:
    • the Panel raised serious concern regarding the quality of the residential units with respect to amenity and liveability noting that the design has not placed residents first but visitors. The Panel were not convinced that the proposed urban form of a perimeter block offers good solution particularly with respect to the amenity of future residents given the high percentage of single aspect units. The lack of daylight and outlook to many of these units and sunlight to the open spaces would in the Panel’s view create a very poor living environment.
    • Feature tower to create city beacon and urban way-finding device – the 33 storeys will require review + certification by Scottish Ministers.
    • Amenity such as privacy, open space, sunlight, daylight to be assessed
    • Potential noise from adjacent commercial uses and Leith Docks
  • LHNCC Concerns
    • Creation of tunnel effect along Ocean Drive, height and density
    • Daylight and sunlight issues, particularly for proposed Affordable housing block, also amenities such as privacy and open space
    • This area is being overwhelmed when combined with increasing height and density plans from neighbouring developments

19.b Transport

19.b.i CCTT – Trams to Newhaven – Meeting Thursday 9 February

  • Discussed work progress, landscaping and snagging
  • Reported Street lighting again, particularly in Ocean Drive.
  • Should get report following walk through I had with Tram Transport member, also reports for other CCs.
  • Reported issues with traffic management on Ocean Drive and loss of yellow box juction at North Leith Sands.

19.b.ii Lothian Buses

  • EBUG meeting on is on Thursday and we will be following up workshops on Mobility Hubs we have attended and will circulate information on them.

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