LCCC January 2023 minutes

Minutes of Leith Central Community Council meeting, at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library, on Monday 16 January 2023 at 7:00pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against a decision.

0 Summary of actions

Item	action
3 (row 2)	LCCC Planning to chase Ashley Place presenters for written answers to LCCC’s questions
3 (row 3)	Cllr Dalgleish to follow up about unlicensed short term let at 11 Pilrig St
3 (row 4)	J Wilkinson to forward his report on the short-term let meeting to LCCC
3 (row 5)	H Tobermann to ask CEC for numbers of existing STLs being granted retrospective planning permission.
3 (row 6)	Cllr Caldwell to continue searching for relevant Easter Rd traffic-change data. (Cllr Caldwell has found some results but not all that would be desirable.)
3 (row 7)	LCCC members to read tram-route business overview, then send comments to H Tobermann.
3 (row 8)	CCTT to take up resident’s questions about noise and vibration with trams team (in February)Cllr Caldwell to chase this asap.
3 (row 9)	C Encombe to check with N Gardner about his non-attendance of LCCC meetings
3 (row 10)	S Kennedy to inform CEC of Z Curry’s co-option onto LCCC
3 (row 11)	C Encombe to engage with A Ortiz about him potentially becoming LCCC’s engagement officer, to come to a suitable arrangement.
3 (row 12), 10a	B Ryan to provide IT recommendations for discussion/approval asap
4.a	Cllr Caldwell to chase for police reports to LCCC
5	Cllr Caldwell to forward appropriate contact details [to S Kennedy]SK to send LCCC’s thanks to Mr Maugham.
6.b.iii	B Ryan to forward discussion on the proposed pop-ups to NTBCC, because this site is in its area
6.b.vi	P Forissier to investigate whether the advertising would be animated.
6.b.vi	I Mowat to draft an objection to the BT hubs
6.c.i	LCCC to pursue: Ashley Place (item 6.b.iv below); Shrubhill student housing (item 6.b.v below); BT hubs (item 6.b.vi below)
7.b.i	I Mowat to call meeting of LCCC’s transport and clean streets committee meeting covering (inter alia) Montgomery St and Windsor StCllr Caldwell to liaise with CEC roads team about possible mitigations, and raise the issue with trams team LCCC to raise this at the next CCTT meeting with the trams team LCCC to revisit this at its February meeting
7.d	CCTT to chase harder for protocol for monitoring noise and vibration from trams
8.a	N Gardner to organise a public meeting to get volunteers to reconvene FoPP
10.a	LCCC to decide whether it wishes to advertise in the online version of the Spurtle.
11	Cllr Caldwell to raise with CEC’s transport convenor asap the ban on turning left from Leith Walk into London Road, stating that LCCC is strongly against the left-turn ban.
12	S Kennedy to send a get-well card to C Encombe on behalf of LCCC

1 Welcome, introductions, attendance, apologies

1.a Present, apologies

Jun

(AGM)

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Voting members

Zoe Curry

No meeting

Alan Dudley

Charlotte Encombe

Pierre Forissier

Nick Gardner

Sheila Kennedy

Ian Mowat

Alex Ortiz

Harald Tobermann

Lucy Wood-Watters

John Wilkinson

Non-voting members

Bruce Ryan

Cllr Jack Caldwell

Cllr James Dalgleish

Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan

Cllr Susan Rae

Ben Macpherson MSP

Deidre Brock MP

Number of residents/visitors attending

P = present, A = apology, X = neither present nor sent apology, NA = not applicable

1.b to note: declarations of interest in any items on the agenda

Cllr Caldwell is a member of Pilmany Youth Centre (item 5 below)

1.c to agree: order of business below

agreed

2 Approval of minutes of the ordinary LCCC meeting on 21 November 2022

Approved subject to correcting a minor typo in section 5.b (proposed I Mowat, seconded Z Curry, nem con)

3 Matters arising from previous minutes (and not included on agenda below)

This section records any actions from the November 2022 minutes that have been held over, due to illness etc.

Row	November item number	Detail
1	4.a	C Encombe to chase for police reports. NB Cllr Caldwell to take this on – see item 4
2	5.b	Ashley Place presenters to supply written answers to LCCC’s questions
3	6.b	Cllr Dalgleish to follow up about unlicensed short term let at 11 Pilrig St
4	6.d	J Wilkinson to forward his report on the short-term let meeting to LCCC
5	6.d	H Tobermann to ask CEC for numbers of existing STLs being granted retrospective plannign permission.
6	7.a	Cllr Caldwell to continue searching for relevant Easter Rd traffic-change data. (Cllr Caldwell has found some results but not all that would be desirable.)
7	7.a.iii	LCCC members to read tram-route business overview, then send comments to H Tobermann.
8	7.a.iv	CCTT to take up resident’s questions about noise and vibration with trams team. The next CCTT meeting with the trams team is in early February, so Cllr Caldwell to chase this asap.
9	10	C Encombe to check with N Gardner about his non-attendance of LCCC meetings
10	10.a	S Kennedy to inform CEC of Z Curry’s co-option onto LCCC
11	10.b	C Encombe to engage with A Ortiz about him potentially becoming LCCC’s engagement officer, to come to a suitable arrangement.
12	10.c	B Ryan to provide IT recommendations for discussion/approval asap

4 Policing matters

4.a to note: local (ward) Police Report/s April – June (not previously received), July – September (not previously received), October – December 2022

These reports have not been received, nor has a report for January 2023.
action: Cllr Caldwell to chase for these.

4.b to note: city-wide Police report APR-SEP 2022

This was noted.

5 to agree: to thank Bryan Maugham

who is retiring from Pilmeny Youth Centre (PYC) for his long service to the local community and to wish him well for his future; and to note with regret the recently announced closure of PYC after 32 years. Bryan has been instrumental in developing PYC from its early days and in parallel the Redpath Albion Pilmeny Sports Academy which continues to be active in Pilrig Park. Bryan’s enthusiasm and hard work inspired more than one generation of local young people.

Cllr Caldwell: Mr Maugham has been a ‘fantastic’ asset to the community. PYC is a youth centre known for supporting transitions from primary to high school. However, PYC is now closing because it has lost funding from the Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board, and its venue.
Actions: Cllr Caldwell to forward appropriate contact details [to S Kennedy], SK to send LCCC’s thanks to Mr Maugham.

6 Planning

6.a to ratify: LCCC protest email about the processing of 22/00745/FUL Conversion of bowling club and bowling green to residential dwelling and garden @ 54 Rosslyn Crescent, Edinburgh, EH6 5AX

This email was ratified, after the following discussion:

P Forrisier: A promised community asset has not been delivered. The first planning application for this site was poor, and rejected by CEC. LCCC objected to the second application because of community concerns. There were irregularities in CEC’s process, including LCCC’ objection not appearing on CEC’s planning portal, hence this protest email. This is not the only case where there have been such or similar irregularities.
Cllr Caldwell: I have requested a hearing about this application.

6.b Planning applications to note

All of the following (items 6.b.i to 6.b.vi were noted.

6.b.i 22/06234/FUL and 22/06233/LBC Internal alterations and change of use from Class 9 residential flats to Class 7 guesthouse, (in retrospect) @ 11 Pilrig Street EH6 5AN (deadline 27-1-23 and 3-2-23)

P Forrisier: this is a poorly drafted retrospective application, which has not yet received any comments from the public. There is time to do so.
Cllr Caldwell: this is an unlicensed HMO. See November 2022 minutes (item 6.b).
I Mowat: a guest house might be preferable, because it is likely to be better managed. Can CEC to access the property?
A resident: it is unlikely that neighbours will cause problems, given that most neighbouring properties are also HMOs.

6.b.ii 22/06335/FUL Change of use from storage and distribution (Class 6) to Sui Generis. | 254 Leith Walk Edinburgh EH6 5EL (deadline 3-2-23)

P Forresier: this is to become a market, and will not have live music. There are supportive comments but these could be taken with a pinch of salt.

6.b.iii 22/06445/FUL Construction of 8 pop-up units and an accessible WC for use as a variety of small commercial and community activities for local residents, sustainable businesses and community organisations. These will be located in the existing Leith Walk Police Box and complement the current use here. @ Police Call Box Croall Place Edinburgh (deadline 3-2-23)

P Foressier: I foresee no problems with it.
I Mowat: this would narrow the pavement. There are plenty of shops and cafes already on Leith Walk.
A resident: the bus-stop here would be behind the pop-ups. Hence bus passengers may not be able to see approaching buses. That is, the proposed use is fine but the site is questionable.
Action: B Ryan to forward this discussion to NTBCC, because this site is in its area.

6.b.iv 22/06251/FUL Purpose-built student accommodation with associated infrastructure and landscaping @ 14 Ashley Place EH6 5PX (deadline 18-1-23)

P Forissier: this follows on from the presentation in November. LCCC had previously objected to relevant applications. The site is 0·24 ha, so affordable housing is only just not obligated. (Obligation starts at 0·25 ha.) However, the application’s boundary line has been artificially moved, obviating the obligation. LCCC should highlight this to CEC, and object. (An objection has been drafted.) Further, the application does not follow the Bonnington place brief.
P Forrisier: the developers have not formally replied to LCCC’s questions, so LCCC should object to this too.
I Mowat: this site is not ideally situated for transport to educational institutions.
I Mowat: a developer’s contribution of paths in Pilrig Park would be very welcome.

6.b.v 22/05368/FUL Erection of extension to student housing and other associated works @ 7 Shrub Place EH7 4PD (deadline 20-01-23)

P Forrisier: this is about adding extra rooms within the envelope that has already has planning permission. It is reminiscent of sites where empty attics or ground-floor shops on the original plans have become student bedrooms. That is, the developers are sneaking in extra student population. The implication is that developers are not playing straight in their original applications
J Wilkinson: there was an objection to this because of building on green space.

6.b.vi to note: 22/06210/FUL Installation of 1no. BT Street Hub (multi-faceted digital advertising) and the removal of 2 No. BT phone boxes from the streetscape @ 10m east of 272 Leith Walk Edinburgh (deadline 27-1-23)

A resident: these will basically be advertising boards but emergency calls can be made and cellphones can be charged.
I Mowat/a resident: CEC has a general objection to animated digital advertising, at least in the city centre.
N Gardner: animations could distract drivers
- Action: P Forissier to investigate whether the advertising would be animated.
S Kennedy: there is too much street furniture already. Spaces for people would be better.
Action: IM to draft objection

6.c to note: status of current planning applications in our area (January 2023)

noted

6.c.i to agree: which of the new planning cases (6.b.i to 6.b.vi) to pursue

LCCC to pursue: 6.b.iv (Ashley Place); 6.b.v (Shrubhill student housing); 6.b.vi (BT hubs)

6.d to note: any other Planning matters relevant to LCCC area

A resident: there is a change of use (to student accommodation) request for 27 Arthur Street. Submission deadline 4 Feb.
A resident: two retrospective HMO requests in tenements have been refused by CEC.

7 Transport and clean streets

7.a to note: joint-CC email to local MSPs (25-11-22) to encourage them to accelerate prohibition of pavement parking (awaiting substantive response)

noted

7.b to note: tram works issues for local residents

7.b.i to note: issues in Windsor and Montgomery Street

A resident: The issue here is not about conditions during construction, but about post-completion status. There are/weill be faites accomplis increases in traffic, speeding, use of these streets by lorries and delivery-vans. Currently, Montgomery St has a logistics hub, so large lorries are reversing into Windsor St to turn because they are too big to turn otherwise in these streets. The worst times are 8am to 10am. Many children use these streets, so they are endangered. There should be restrictions on the size of vehicle that can use these streets.
P Foressier: it is illegal to reverse from a side road into a main road. This matter should be raised to CEC concillors.
I Mowat: I suspect this issue arises from the Leith Walk end of Montgomery St (and others) being closed. Concerning PF’s point, it is not clear which of these streets is the side road and which the main road.
S Kennedy: Cllr McNeese-Mechan has called for traffic mitigation measures on Windsor St.
Action: I Mowat to call meeting of LCCC’s transport and clean streets committee.
Action: Cllr Caldwell to liaise with CEC roads team about possible mitigations.
Action: Cllr Caldwell to raise this issue with trams team
Action: LCCC to raise this at the next CCTT meeting with the trams team
Action: LCCC to revisit this at its February meeting

7.c to note: tram works issues for local businesses

7.c.i to note: closure of Pilrig Motors

noted

7.d to note: any other Transport and clean streets matters relevant to LCCC area

P Foressier: concerning noise, monitoring, we have been chasing for a measurement protocol for over 6 months.
B Ryan: there was no mention of this topic at the last CCTT/TT meeting.
- Action: CCTT to chase harder

8 Parks and green spaces

8.a to note: any Parks and green spaces matters relevant to LCCC area

N Gardner: Friends of Pilrig Park has done good things in the past, but this has lapsed. I will organise a public meeting to get volunteers to reconvene FoPP
S Kennedy: other parks, e.g. Montgomery St park, have better paths, so why not this park?
Cllr Caldwell: this came from a Friends of Montgomery St Park initiative
A resident: local impetus is needed.
N Gardner: it is possible to obtain contributions from developers.
I Mowat: there is a desire line [in Pilrig Park] from Pilrig House to Balfour St. The existing paths are unsuitable for cycling.

9 Licensing

9.a to note: any Licensing matters relevant to LCCC area

S Kennedy: there have been very few applications. Those of interest (but to which LCCC has not objected) include:
provisional alcohol license for 128 Leith Walk (Cornelius Wines)
a sex shop at 60 Elm Row.

10 LCCC Governance

10.a to note: any governance and IT issues

Action: B Ryan to provide IT recommendations asap, in view of the potential bill for a further year of MS Teams.
Action: LCCC to decide whether it wishes to advertise in the online version of the Spurtle.

11 Open Forum (local residents)

A resident: Cllr Dalgleish has written an open letter about Brunswick St. (See text in Appendix 1.) Cllr Dalgleish letter about Brunswick St opening and resurfacing issues. Brunswick St residents are lobbying CEC about such matters. Apparently there is still no definitive answer about whether the Brunswick St/Leith Walk junction will be opened, but residents are concerned that Brunswick St will become a rat-run if this junction is reopened. A significant majority of residents wish this junction to remain closed. Residents are grateful to Cllrs Dalgleish and Caldwell for their actions so far.
I Mowat: such concerns would be alleviated if traffic could turn left from Leith Walk onto London Rd.
A resident: it is very unlikely that this left turn will be reopened. I note Cllr Rae’s actions.
S Kennedy: it’s not surprising that people currently turn left here. Maybe matters will improve when traffic flows better.
Cllr Caldwell: I will raise this with CEC’s transport convenor asap, stating that LCCC is strongly against the left-turn ban.
N Gardner: why were left turns banned here?
- Cllr Caldwell/S Kennedy: to facilitate pedestrians crossing London Road here: the green man can stay on longer. Pedestrians are at the top of LCCC’s transport hierarchy.

12 AOCB (LCCC members)

J Wilkinson: there is a consultation on the mural on Great Junction St (28 January, 10:30 to 1pm, Leith town hall)
Action: S Kennedy to send a get-well card to C Encombe on behalf of LCCC

13 Future ordinary meetings (usually 3rd Monday of the month) and meeting topics/presentations

13.a to note: future meetings on 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm (except July and December):

2023: 20 February, 20 March, 17 April, 15 May (AGM), 19 June

14 Appendix 1: text of Cllr Dalgleish’s letter

13 January 2023

Dear Resident,

I hope you are well.

I want to first wish you a happy new year and all the best for 2023. It was my honour to be elected as one of your Leith Walk Ward Councillors in May 2022 and | look forward to working with residents over the next four years.

Several residents have been in touch with me regarding the ongoing road/traffic issues around London Road and Brunswick Street, there has been some progress made regarding information that | would like to share with you below.

Brunswick Street

As residents will be aware, there has been changes regarding car access from Brunswick Street onto Leith Walk. | have raised questions regarding this with the Trams to Newhaven Team as well as Council officers who deal with Road and Transport issues, below is part of the response I have received from them:

“We are looking at this issue at the moment and currently await a designers report on impact for side streets and the continuous footways. As you will be aware elected members have asked us to review the left hand turn and while that review has taken longer than I would have liked | expect to provide them with a response fairly shortly.”

Although the situation and final decision has not been agreed, I am hopeful that solutions can be found that will be to the benefit of residents. A decision regarding Brunswick Street will most likely have to come before the Transport & Environment Committee in the near future so please be aware of this.

London Road

| am sure that most residents will also know by now that there has been a ban on left hand turns from Leith Walk onto London Road, which was agreed by Councillors last year. There has been very clear evidence of drivers either ignoring this change or not being aware of the change, either way this has caused a great deal of concerns regarding the safety of residents crossing the road, as well as local residents questioning the change. Below is the most up to date response I have received:

“The left turn ban at London Road was proposed as part of the Project’s Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). This was proposed following traffic modelling which showed that maintaining the left-hand turn when the tram was operational would increase congestion at the junction. Banning the left turn will ensure public transport efficiency and pedestrian safety. We can confirm that this will be permanent.

The project is in the process of installing further measures to improve the traffic flow in the area. you can read more about this here.” https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/tramstonewhaven/news/article/393/london-road-leith-walk-junction-mitigation-measures

Although I still have my concerns regarding this change, | am aware that my voice as a local Councillor can help in the decision-making progress, but it is not myself or the other local ward Councillors that will make the final decision. If the decision regarding London Road is definitive, then my focus will now be put towards fair enforcement of the rules and to make sure that pedestrian safety is given top priority.

It is understandable that many residents will be frustrated with the current speed of progress on these issues or the information available. Rest assured I am working with fellow ward Councillors, the Trams to Newhaven Team and well as North Edinburgh Police regarding enforcement to make sure we try to get the best outcomes for both situations.

If you have any questions or wish to make your views known to me, please do not hesitate to get in touch and I will be happy to pass along feedback to the relevant team.

Best wishes,

James

Councillor James Dalgleish
Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Leith Walk Ward