Category Archives: News and Events

Leith Community Policing Update: September 2021

The Leith Community Policing team produced the following newsletter upon request, detailing some of what the dedicated Community Policing team have been doing this month.

Police Scotland’s North East Edinburgh Locality team can be contacted at scotland.police.uk.

Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting, 19 August 2021

Minutes of the Community Councils Together on Trams/Trams Team meeting (Construction Phase) via Google Meet on Thursday 19 August 2021 at 5:30pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. ‘TT’ means ‘Trams Team’. Names are sometimes abbreviated to initials.

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Update on Lorne Street works

From Trams to Newhaven (received mid-day on 12 August):

The installation of the attenuation pipes have been completed up to the junction of Leith Walk however we will be unable to reinstate and re-open the road until the evening of Wednesday 25 August 2021.  

This is due to a mechanical fault with the machine that completes the reinstatement works. We had hoped to have the road re-opened for the start of the new term on 18 August 2021. We have made contact with the school to advise them of this and we will highlight this in the fortnightly newsletter that goes out tomorrow.

In summary, the road will remain closed until the evening of Wednesday 25 August 2021 and there will be no works on site from w/c 16 August 2021 with reinstatement works commencing on Monday 23 August for approximately three days.  Reinstatement works will be between the hours of 09:00 to 15:00 each day to minimise site vehicle movement during school peak hours.  

Edinburgh’s new Low Emission Zone: Public Consultation now open

Transport Scotland have a consultation running on Edinburgh Council’s proposed Low Emission Zone (LEZ). The current proposed boundaries begin at Leith Street / Picardy Place / Greenside and extends south to The Meadows. Although none of Leith Central Community Council’s area are directly in the zone, there will likely be an impact.

Flyer from ‘Low Emission Zones Scotland’ – Edinburgh’s proposed LEZ would begin in June 2024.

Leith Central Community Council are currently listening to residents in the area and may respond accordingly before the close date in Septmeber 2021.

The proposed plans for Edinburgh could see the city introduce an LEZ in spring 2022, with enforcement expected to begin in June 2024.

As you may be aware, Edinburgh is one of four cities in Scotland where LEZ plans are being progressed. They include Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow.

Aimed at improving air quality and protecting public health, Scotland’s LEZ plans set emission standards on certain road spaces and restrict access for the most polluting vehicles. They also support the country’s wider climate change ambitions by encouraging people to think about active travel and using more sustainable transport options.

While Scotland’s air quality is generally good, road transport is a key contributor to the number of polluted hotspots that remain which is why progressing the country’s LEZs continues to be a top priority to help reduce the major impact that air pollution has on people’s health.

Further details about Edinburgh’s LEZ plans and how people can comment are available via the Edinburgh City Council links below:

Edinburgh LEZ plans – Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone – Edinburgh City Council.

Public consultation – Edinburgh Low Emission Zone Consultation.

Community Covid-19 testing this week at McDonald Road Library

McDonald Road Library will host another community testing hub for people without Covid19 symptoms from Monday 9th to Saturday 21st August (exlucding Sundays) from 9am – 6pm.

Leith Central Community Council recieved the following email from The City of Edinburgh Council with the full list of Community Testing Hubs:

Regular testing for people with no COVID-19 symptoms is one of the ways we can all help keep people safe and stop the spread new variants in Edinburgh. Infection rates are high across Edinburgh, so we’re urging people to keep testing, even if they’ve been vaccinated.

People with no COVID-19 symptoms can come along for a test at:

  • Gilmerton Library, from Monday 2 August to Saturday 14 August (closed 8 August)
  • Fountainbridge Library from Monday 9 August to Saturday 21 (closed Sunday 15 August)
  • McDonald Road Library from Monday 9 August to Saturday 21 August (closed Sunday 15 August)
  • James Pringle Shopping Village, 70- 74 Bangor Road, EH6 5JU from Friday 16 July to Sunday 15 August,10am to 5pm
  • Craigmillar Medical Centre (car park) 106 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT from Monday 2 August to Sunday 15 August, 9.30am to 5.30pm (5pm on Sunday)
  • Blackhall Mosque, 1 House O’Hill Road, EH4 2AJ from Monday 9 August to Thursday 12 August and Saturday 14 August from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sunday 15 August 9.30am to 5pm
  • Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre, 30 Harvesters Way, EH14 3JF from Monday 9 August to Sunday 15 August, 9.30am to 5.30pm (5pm on Sunday)

We’re open from 9am to 6pm unless stated above and there’s no need to book. You can also pick up home testing kits from our centres at libraries. Testing is free, fast and safe. It will only take around 15 minutes to take the test and 45 minutes for people to be sent their results.

If you can’t get to the library, you can order free rapid lateral flow test kits online or by phoning the National Testing Centre on 119

Almost 1 in 3 people infected with Covid-19 don’t have any of the usual symptoms but are potentially passing on the virus unknowingly to family, friends and others in the community. By getting tested people can find out if they are positive and self-isolate at home to stop spreading the virus to others. People who have been vaccinated are also encouraged to take a test as they may still carry the virus.

You can find out more about community testing on our web pages at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitytesting