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.
online only – local residents wishing to join, sign up via Eventbrite here
1this agenda point allows members of the public to raise issues of public interest; during online meetings, please raise your virtual hand
2 this agenda point allows LCCC members to raise issues not covered by the agenda
3 Items of local interest that may be raised at a future LCCC meeting – not for discussion at this meeting)
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.
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.
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.
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:
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
Leith Central Community Council 