The City of Edinburgh Council is developing a project to create a safer and more comfortable street environment for walking, cycling, wheeling and spending time in the local streets and outdoor spaces of Leith. To achieve this, it is looking to develop a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the area.

The council plans to carry out an initial community engagement with residents from 8th – 28th February 2021 to gather information and inform the scope of the project. Further engagement is planned throughout the year prior to implementation in winter 2021, with Council Committee approval at key stages.

In order to best represent the community views in the area and provide local knowledge and input to project, the council proposes forming a Community Reference Group (CRG).

It is proposed this group is made up of representatives from local organisations and established groups who will meet at key stages of the project to provide feedback and help share information with the community.

Whilst the group will be a touchstone for local feedback and views, it will not supersede the views of residents expressed during the consultation surveys. It is simply an additional way for the project team to create dialogue with the local community.

The council has contacted the following, and possibly other relevant organisations, to seek advice on what local interest groups and organisations should be invited to join the CRG:

• Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council
• Leith Central Community Council
• Leith Links Community Council
• Community Councils Together on Trams
• Port of Leith Housing Association
• Leith Primary School – Parent Council
• St Mary’s RC Primary School – Parent Council
• Leith Academy Secondary School – Parent Council
• Edinburgh Access Panel
• Spokes
• Living Streets.

The council has also asked which other organisations it should contact.

The council would propose to convene an online meeting with the CRG during the initial engagement period in February and then follow-up at key stages in the project.

Further details should be available from

Anna McRobbie BSc (Hons)
Consultant
Consulting, Transportation
M: 07384 543887
anna.mcrobbie@aecom.com