Author Archives: minsec

Edinburgh Tram Enquiry. Public call for Evidence and Issues

(With apologies for being late to post this)

The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry is currently retrieving and reviewing documents, and gathering further material as part of the investigation into the Edinburgh Trams project. As part of that process the Inquiry is now keen to hear from the public on two themes:

What issues should the Inquiry be investigating in detail?
What direct evidence does the public have on the consequences of the failure to deliver the project in the time, within the budget and to the extent projected?

Further details and an online survey is available via the website (www.edinburghtraminquiry.org) or by contacting the Secretary to the Inquiry.

The deadline for responses is 4 August 2015.

Kirkgate CCTV camera

(adapted from an email from Edinburgh Council. Link added by Bruce Ryan)

With regards to the item regarding the Kirkgate CCTV camera contained in the draft minutes (item 2.2.3) from your recent Leith Central CC meeting highlighted on social media. Just for clarity, the costs of removing and relocating the fibre connections that would be required are indeed expensive, however, following discussions with CCTV, their view was that the existing camera was, on balance, best left in its current location in front of the Kirkgate for operational reasons. This position allows it to cater for a number of uses such as the detection and prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour plus helping to assist in local traffic management; measures that can contribute to improving community safety and maintaining traffic and pedestrian flow at the busy junction. Its former location was on the pedestrian island at the Foot of the Walk, that allowed it similar views, but it was knocked over twice by vehicles when it was situated there.

Public toilet closures

(adapted from an email from Edinburgh Council – click for full text of that email: Public toilets)

Following consultation, we can advise that the toilets below will be closed over the following timescales:

Ardmillan – end of July 2015
Canaan Lane – end of July 2015
Canonmills – end of July 2015
Currie – end of July 2015
Granton Square – end of July 2015
Joppa – end of August 2015
Juniper Green – end of July 2015
London Road – end of August 2015
St John’s Road – end of August 2015
Tollcross – end of August 2015

The toilets at Hawes Pier and Middle Meadow Walk will not be closed at this time, while the options for these sites are reviewed.

To lessen the impact of the closures, the Council is establishing a Community Toilet Scheme with interested businesses across the city. This would result in participating businesses allowing members of the public to use their toilet facilities without expecting them to make a purchase, in exchange for an annual payment from the Council.

It is appreciated that there will be some impact following these closures. To help mitigate this, there have been over 60 additional toilet facilities identified in Council buildings around the city that are available for the public to use. These are located in various Libraries, Community Centres, Edinburgh Leisure facilities and Neighbourhood Offices, and information about these toilet facilities is available here on the Council’s website. Nearly 20 public toilets will remain open.

If you would like to make an enquiry about public toilet closures, please call 0131 529 3030 or email public.toilets@edinburgh.gov.uk.

June LCCC meeting minutes DRAFT

Click to download: 2015_06_22 draft

Please note that these are draft minutes and so may well change when considered at the next meeting. If there are any queries, please contact LCCC – see our contacts page.

Topics discussed included

Shrub Place pavement-blocking
Policing, community beat officers and local statistics
Leith Walk – plans for Pilrig St to Montgomery St
new flats at Shrub Hill
Edinburgh Solar co-op

April LCCC meeting minutes: approved

Click to download: 2015_04_20 final

These minutes were approved in the June meeting because the May meeting was the 2015 AGM – that meeting considered the 2014 AGM draft minutes.