Category Archives: News and Events

Business support during the tramworks

The Trams to Newhaven project have published the ways they are trying to support local businesses impacted by the Leith Walk tramworks.

We note several schemes are only available to businesses who directly request it from the Trams project, so urge any local businesses to take up the offers.

Full details are on tramstonewhaven.co.uk and include various marketing campaigns, Council-funded discounts, cargo-bike hire and the Business Continuity Fund.

The Business Continutity Fund for rents, wages and general operational costs can be found here on the Trams website.

Big changes to Leith Walk tramworks from 2nd Feb

The Trams to Newhaven team have published updated guidance on the second phase of works starting from Wednesday 2nd February 2022.

Please check out their news article for the whole story and how you’ll be impacted.

The following will impact road traffic including cars, buses and bicycles.

Road flipping on the Walk

The current city-bound running lane on Leith Walk will close and traffic will be diverted to the new road surface on the west side from Manderston Street.

Road openings from Leith Walk

  • Pilrig Street – access to and from Pilrig Street will be reintroduced heading south (ie going towards Leith Walk)
  • Steads Place – access to and from Steads Place will be reintroduced heading south (ie going towards Leith Walk)

Road Closures from Leith Walk

  • Dalmeny Street – as part of site set up there will be no access to Dalmeny Street from Leith Walk.
  • Iona Street – as part of site set up a full closure will be implemented.
  • Lorne Street – as part of site set up a full closure will be implemented.
  • Manderston Street – as part of site set up there will be no access to Manderston Street from Leith Walk.

Again, please check out the Trams Team’s full update for details and other changes.

Leith Chooses voting is live

Anyone who lives, works or volunteers in the Leith area is eligible to vote in until Monday 31st January on 20 projects looking for funding.

This includes the entire ‘Leith Central’ area including Hillside, Bonnington, Easter Road, Pilrig and part of Abbeyhill.

£eith Chooses is an event run by Edinburgh Council and the Community Councils of Leith for people to vote on which local projects get funding from the Council.

You can vote from any smart phone, tablet or computer. People with no access to technology can vote at the Utilita Energy Hub in the NewKirkgate, during office hours.

You can read more about the voting process here.

VOTE at edinburgh.gov.uk!

Covid-19 testing around Leith, Bonnington, Pilrig & Hillside

There are a number of test centres still in operation throughout the city.

McDonald Road Library are still doing community testing for people without symptoms so health authorities can study the spread of Covid-19. Open from Monday 13 December to Saturday 22 January, 9am to 6pm. Library services will still be available at this time.

Leith Library on Ferry Road and the Portlee Day Centre in Restalrig remains fully operational as walk-through test centres. More info on appointments.

Edinburgh Airport is still Edinburgh’s drive-through testing site.

Mobile testing units are available at the following locations/dates;

  • Edinburgh University, Buccleuch Place (outside Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre), until Sunday 9 January, 10am to 4pm.
  • Blackhall Mosque, from Monday 20 December to Thursday 6 January, 10am to 4pm.
  • Craigmillar Medical Centre, 106 Niddrie Mains Road, from Monday 13 December to Sunday 9 January, 10am to 4pm. Closed 1- 4 January.
  • South East Locality Office, 40 Captain’s Road from Monday 20 December to Sunday 9 January, 10am to 4pm. Closed 1 to 4 January.
  • Currie Library until Sunday 9 January, 10am to 4.30pm (open 1pm to 4.00pm on 5 January)

A full list of test centres run by the Scottish Government, UK Government, Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Ambulance Service is available on gov.scot.

Communal bin hubs “rolling out” around Easter Road, Leith Walk and Pilrig next week

After the consultation, Edinburgh Council will be installing the ‘bin hubs’ across the area from 10th January until early March.

Edinburgh Council is creating designated bin hubs to keep communal bins neatly and safely in one location on your street, or a nearby street.

Each hub will have a range of recycling bins. There’ll be bins for mixed recycling, food recycling and glass. There’ll also be bins for any waste that can’t be recycled.

Areas included as part of the road works programme are Easter Road (previously in embargo), Leith Walk and Pilrig. During this time, in order to install the corralling and new bins, there will be minor disruption to resident parking where the new hubs are due to be installed. Engagement with the residents was carried out during November and comments were considered on the final designs which are now publicly available on Edinburgh Council’s website.

Residents may receive a leaflet with relevant information about the updated service.