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Future Edinburgh – Additional Consultations

(adapted from a post on Planning Edinburgh)

In addition to the published engagement programme and the online consultation, CEC is holding two more events for those who would like to find out more or comment:

  • A drop in event to see the plans and talk to CEC staff in person about our strategy at Ratho Community Centre on Thursday 12th March 2020 from 4pm until 7.30pm.
  • A consultation hub surgery where if needed CEC staff can give one-to-one help to fill in the consultation at Currie Library on Monday 16th March 2020 from 4pm until 7pm.

You can read more about CEC’s Future Edinburgh consultations and give CEC your views here.

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Heart of Newhaven February update

(adapted from an email from Heart of Newhaven)

Waiting for the bus……

…and waiting. Then several come at once. That’s before you grapple with bus diversions because of tram works. Nothing in sight yet?

On the cusp of important developments for the Heart of Newhaven community, jump on any of our ‘buses’ because they all take you the right direction. Try this one – We are now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) SC049919. 

We have achieved what we set out to do a year ago under the Constitution of The Heart of Newhaven Community Steering Group – see our website heartofnewhaven.co.uk.  Well, not quite! Just the next part of the route and, when compared with exciting things that happened in 2019, a little technical. But vital in applying to the City of Edinburgh Council for the acquisition of Victoria Primary School by Community Asset Transfer, and also towards obtaining a major grant from the Scottish Land Fund.

More to tell you about that journey soon – but very good to be on that bus with us, and on the way noticing changes on our website. Meanwhile you are now among well over 700 of those supporting The Heart of Newhaven increasing daily (so a fleet of buses). Please keep recruiting as this is vital to our success!

Still waiting?

Notice what else is happening, as well as building progress on the new school, making all our plans possible. Get ready to put a date in your diary in April for an afternoon event in the Anchor Building. This is the first of three chances to showcase the many activities planned there to illustrate our three themes (remember them?): Learning & Enterprise; Culture & Heritage; Wellbeing. This one will focus on Learning, with a staffed Information Station and a range of opportunities for people of all ages – especially older adults and children to join in reading, crafts and singing – and home baking too!

From DAY ONE – as soon as we have possession of the site – we have an imaginative programme on this part of the campus to begin to fulfil our promise to the NEWHAVEN COMMUNITY while we develop the Victorian Building to incorporate a comprehensive Heritage Suite to provide visitors with a rich experience of a living museum. Have a look back at my last update with two examples of intergenerational activity and building a sense of community.

Another bus!

This one stopping to pick up anyone free on Friday 6th March at 9:30 on a scenic route. ‘Another planting day with children and any adults who would like to join in’ regreening the coastline, from the area just behind the David Lloyd Centre begun last year.  Look at our website under Events and read the exciting story of what is already happening.

Rodney Matthews (Vision Facilitator)
chair@theheartofnewhaven.co.uk

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LHNCC January 2020 minutes

Minutes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council meeting, held at the Leith Community Education Centre on Tuesday 28 January 2020 at 7pm Continue reading →

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Leith Creative – Making Places

Adapted from an email form Citizen Curator, with apologies for late posting by LHNCC. (The email was received in good time.)

I wanted to initially flag that Leith Creative and the Scottish Community Development Center will be co-hosting three meetings over the coming months.

Building on from the Leith Conference in October 2019, the meetings will focus on the key issues effecting the area, the development of a Local Place Plan and the potential of a new Leith Community Development Trust.

I will circulate booking details early February, but for your diary – meetings will be held in the Leith Community Center between 6.30 and 9pm, on the;

  • 20th February
  • 19th March
  • 23rd April

The meetings are open to all so please do share as soon as bookings open. A light bite and refreshment will be available on the night.

As some of you know over the break I took the decisions to step down from Citizen Curator, the charity that supported this Leith Conference and founded Leith Creative. It will be winding down over the coming months. I hope to finish this project and focus on the foundation of something new for the area to continue this work.

In the mean time, just a quick thank you for your support so far, and I will be responding in person shortly.

Best wishes

Duncan

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Partnership Agreement on litter and debris accumulations in the Water of Leith

(copied from a PDF – see original here)

Partnership Agreement on litter and debris accumulations in the Water of Leith

1. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust (WOLCT)

  1. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust (WOLCT) will organise volunteer clean-ups along the length of the Water of Leith from Balerno to Great Junction St, supported by City of Edinburgh Council’s Natural Heritage Services and Waste and Cleansing teams.
  2. Periodically, but no more frequently than once a month, WOLCT, financially supported by Water of Leith 2000 Limited*, will clear litter accumulations at the boom and corners of the area known as basin 1. Volunteers will not collect wood accumulations
  3. Periodically, but no more frequently than once a month WOLCT, supported by Bluefield 1502 LLP, will assess and clear litter accumulation in the corner areas and under the bridges, where safe and practical to do so in basin areas 2 and 3. Volunteers will not collect wood accumulations

*this support will include access to or funding for a safe and maintained boat, life jackets and an electric outboard motor

2. Forth Ports Ltd

  1. Forth Ports Ltd will arrange specialist marine contractors to assist with the removal of debris at the Victoria Bridge when accumulations of wood and litter have become significant and are no longer able to be dealt with by volunteers.

3. The City of Edinburgh Council

  1. The City of Edinburgh Council will work with Forth Ports Ltd to co-ordinate the removal of significant accumulations of wood and litter (Action 2.A) and arrange for the disposal of the waste.
  2. The City of Edinburgh Council will provide waste collection services for all litter collected during volunteer activities listed in 1 – A, B and C
  3. The City of Edinburgh Council will oversee the general H&S under the Agreement of the debris collection and removal works, although each individual party will be responsible for ensuring specific H&S provisions and RAMS are in place for their own area of involvement.

4. Water of Leith 2000 Limited

  1. Water of Leith 2000 Limited will maintain the areas of the Basin under their ownership and ensure the area of the Shore from Commercial St to Victoria Bridge is kept free from litter and debris, especially around all boats.
  2. Water of Leith 2000 Limited will financially support WOLCT in action 1 B

5. Bluefield 1502 LLP

  1. Bluefield 1502 LLP will maintain the areas of the basin under their ownership and support WOLCT in the action of 1 C.

6. Friends of the Water of Leith Basin

  1. FOLWB will regularly patrol the basin area and report to WOLCT and relevant owners (Forth Ports, Water of Leith 2000 or Bluefield 1502 LLP) as to the level and status of litter and debris accumulations.
  2. Where practical and suitable FOWLB will support WOLCT with actions 1 A and B

Timeframe and review

It is the intension of the partnership to review the accumulations of litter and debris on a weekly basis and after a high flow event. This information will be gathered by local residents and FOWLB, and then passed to the WOLCT who will assess if a clean-up (1.B.) is required. If a clean-up (1.B.) is required the WOLCT will endeavour to clean-up within a month of this assessment, weather permitting.

Should the accumulations be significant and require specialist contractors the WOLCT will inform Forth Ports, who will arrange specialist contractors to access the accumulations at Victoria Bridge and liaise with The City of Edinburgh Council over waste disposal. A 2.A clean-up will be scheduled no longer than a month after this assessment, weather permitting.

WOLCT has confirmed that they are able to fulfil the role as set out in the agreement and require no additional revenue support to do so in the short term. WOLCT currently receives grant funding from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Parks, Greenspace and Cemeteries department and there are is no intention to reduce this grant further in recognition of the key role that WOLCT play in fulfilling this agreement. Capital funding has been provided to WOLCT by Water of Leith 2000 Ltd for the purchase of equipment to assist in undertaking the clearance of litter and smaller items of debris. The financial arrangements and burden on the WOLCT and Forth Ports will be reviewed after 6 months.

Overall the agreement will be reviewed after 6 months by all parties, with all parties providing feedback of what action has taken place during that period and a partnership update meeting will follow after 12 months, to review the efficacy of the agreement.

All public enquiries regarding litter and floating debris should be forwarded to WOLCT on admin@waterofleith.org.uk

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LHNCC agenda: February 2020

  1. Introductions, apologies
  2. Declaration of interests
  3. Minutes of November 2019 meeting
  4. Matters arising
  5. Police report
  6. Councillor/MSP/MP reports
  7. Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice Chair reports
  8. Standing reports:
    1. Planning
      1. Planning subgroup report: 1–5 Baltic Street and 7–27 Constitution Street
      2. Cockburn Association, Edinburgh Civic Forum Meeting, City Chambers 6.00pm-8.00pm, 3 March 2020
    2. Licensing
    3. Transport
      1. Trams/CCTT (Community Councils Together on Trams)
      2. EBUG (Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group)
    4. Environment
      1. The Water of Leith Partnership Agreement
    5. Heritage
    6. Community
      1. £eith Chooses Awards: Leith Community Centre, 6.00pm-7.30pm 18 February 2020
      2. Leith Community Development Trust – Leith Community Centre, 6.30pm 20 February 2020
      3. Leith Festival Gala Day – 13 June 2020
      4. VE Day – 8 May 2020
  9. Edinburgh City Plan 2030 and consultation
    1. Ocean Terminal – Saturday 29 February 11.00am-3.00pm
  10. Neighbourhood Networks
  11. AOCB
  12. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 24 March 2020 (7pm– 9pm)
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Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin February 2020

(adapted from an email from Edinburgh Bus Users Group)

  • The City of Edinburgh Council’s consultation on bus lane operating hours is complete. The outcome is awaited.
  • Bus stop ‘rationalisation’ (i.e. reducing the number of stops): at the time of writing, we hear that on 27 February the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee will decide on an initial ‘pilot’ on a routes from east to south west Edinburgh. We’re planning to send a deputation to that meeting.
  • The Council’s Transport and Environment Committee considered a report on bus priority measures on the A90 in June, and instructed officials to return with something better within two committee cycles. However, this has still not happened.
  • ‘Superbus’ design and access: Lothian Buses has received feedback from users on problems with the interior layout of these. It is hoped there will be more definite news in the near future.
  • Members of the EBUG Committee met Lothian Buses’ management in December to discuss subjects of mutual interest, and agreed to continue meeting on a regular basis.
  • In February, the Council began a two-month consultation on its ‘City Mobility Plan’ (Local Transport Strategy) for the next ten years. You can send in your own comments here. The EBUG Committee will be involved in the consultation. We’d be interested to hear members’ thoughts, via edinburghbususersgroup@btinternet.com
  • ‘The Scotsman’ revealed that car journeys across the Forth had increased since the new bridge opened. The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee had a session with Transport Scotland officials and others to hear about the Forth Crossing Public Transport Strategy (PTS). The PTS was supposed to progress in parallel with the new bridge, to ensure that it did not just result in extra car journeys. Disappointingly, it was quite clear from the evidence given that progress with the PTS has slow to non-existent.
  • Lothian Buses fares went up by 10p per journey in February.
  • We will be holding our first AGM in late May, so keep an eye out for more details!
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Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting, 30 January 2020

Minutes of the Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting (No 1 Construction Phase), at 200 Bonnington Rd, on Thursday 30 January at 5:30pm Continue reading →