DECEMBER 2025 MEETING - Draft Report

DRAFT 18 December 2025                    

Minutes of GPCC Ordinary Business Meeting, Wednesday, 17 DECEMBER 2025 (18.45) 

at Cameron House Community Centre, 34 Prestonfield Avenue, Edinburgh. 

ATTENDANCE 

Ward Councillor: Cllr. Tim Pogson (Cllr TP) 

Members: Ken Robertson (KR), Ian Chisholm (IC), Peter Cochrane (PC), Sally Griffiths (SG), Peter Jones (PJ), Neil Kempsell (NK), Hrafn Malmquist (HM), Cori Schwabe (CS), Ian Wright (IW).

Apologies:

 Andreas Grothey (AG), Ellen Jackson (ERJ)

1. WELCOME: Chair. Audio or Video Recording: None.  

2. APOLOGIES: Declared 

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None 

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Report of 19 Nov 2025 adopted. (NK, CS) 

5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA: None. 

6. EXTERNAL REPORTS 

6.1 Ward Councillor Report (Cllr TP) 

6.1.1 Appeals lodged with Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in respect of CEC Planning Refusals on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) planning applications at 27-29, 31 Ratcliffe Terrace, 4 South Gray Street and 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace.

6.1.2 There is a delay in the major Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) cabling project, mapped to run from the Grid Supply Point at Newbattle Terrace, east through the Grange, south through Blackford to King’s Buildings and south through to Shawfair. Contracts have still to be completed. This will be a 15 to 18-month project as it progresses, with significant local disruption. We can expect commencement in H1 2026.

SPEN held a public meeting on the proposals in March 2025. There will be further contact from SPEN as the plans for the project are updated.

See this Grange Associaton report from February 2025:

https://grangeassociation.org/forums/topic/major-electricity-cable-works-in-the-grange-2025-26/

7. GPCC REPORTS

7.1 Action Points from 19 November Meeting:

7.1 KR to query status of Pollok Halls Lodge building. / Reply received from Edinburgh University on 9 Dec. Building on Uni retention list; no immediate refurb; Estates will look at graffiti problem.

8.1.1 KR to issue Letter of Support to ESBA. / Issued on 20 Nov and acknowledged.

8.2 AG to contact CEC Governance about outstanding 2024/25 Admin Grant payment. / Payment received 21 Nov.

8.3.1 KR to prepare a note on GPCC data protection. / Now circulated to group.

7.2 Planning:

7.2.1 Cameron Toll Redevelopment Proposals: https://camerontollmasterplan.co.uk/

A first ‘display event’ took place in the Cameron Toll retail unit on 15 December. A follow-up is scheduled for 5 February (2-7pm). The broad idea is to re-imagine the whole space to deliver a ‘mixed village’ concept with retail, catering, hospitality, a wide range of accommodation types with a strong community focus. The existing site is 40-years old and weakening in its retail attraction. The proposals at this point are very fluid.

7.2.2 Planning Application at 11 Cobden Road: Declined.

7.3 Licensing:

CEC Consultation now open on licensing conditions for Sun Tan Centres. See https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/sun-tan-centres-2025/

7.4 Roads and Transport

7.4.1 Local Traffic Improvement Plan: GPCC will look to shape funding request submissions in respect of the junctions Kilgraston Road / Grange Loan and East Mayfield / Dalkeith Road. Closing date is 26 January.

7.4.2 Living Streets Edinburgh Group (LSEG): LSEG is setting out its case for a substantial increase in Council spend on footway maintenance and improvement, in advance of the Council’s 2026/27 budget planning. GPCC is supportive of the principle and will look to shape a short submission to the Council.

7.4.3 Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) S8 (Blackford Newington): Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) setting out the intended detail for CPZ S8 are expected to be tabled for Council Committee on 17 March 2026. The TRO will be advertised for a short period beforehand. Where approved, they will be scheduled for subsequent implementation. There will be no further ‘consultation’.

7.4.4 CEC Road Safety Delivery Plan – Six-Month Update: See the Transport & Environment Committee papers of 13 November 2025 for a comprehensive review of actions and proposals across Safer Streets Prioritisation, Road Safety Project Delivery and a new Pedestrian Crossing Assessment Framework (the latter to be opened to public requests on an ongoing basis). See Item 7.6 in this link: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=7655&Ver=4

7.5 Engagement Programme: GPCC Newsletter: The Grange Prestonfield Voice (TGPV):

Project off to strong start, led by CS. Good build in ‘subscribers’. The meeting agreed to proceed with TGPV as a new community engagement feature of GPCC.

7.6 Data Protection and Privacy Policy:

The meeting approved the proposed texts for the website and newsletter.

7.7 GPCC Website Platform:

The meeting agreed to follow HM’s proposals for the build of a new website with a new platform provider, over the course of 2026, this on the basis of indicative costings set out by HM.

7.8 Friends of Newington Cemetery:

ERJ reports continued commitment to, and progress in, bettering the appearance and accessibility of the cemetery. There are plans for further headstone reinstatement. There are still outstanding wall repairs. PC raised the matter of wall decay close to the old entrance at Ventnor Place. Cllr. TP will follow-up with Council officers.

7.9 Neighbouring Community Councils:

SG reported that Morningside, Liberton & District, Southside, Marchmont & Sciennes and Fairmilehead CCs are each working on a Local Place Plan, as part of the City Plan 2040 project.

8 REPORTS FROM OFFICE BEARERS:

8.3 Secretary:

The City E-Bike hire scheme (‘Voi’) has been expanded recently to the south of the city centre. Site ‘locations’ have been selected. From the team handling the project, courtesy of Cllr. TP, we are told. ‘The bikes have designated geo-fenced parking areas where users have to leave the bikes and if not, they will be fined for this’. There is a 1-2 week check on new locations and on redistribution patterns, and adjustments can be made. So, it’s a case of keeping an eye on things.

Moving on, GPCC needs new active members. There is scope to co-opt. Ideas and proposals welcome.

9 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS: None

10 OTHER BUSINESS:

Police Scotland Officer R Lumsden has been asked to give details of the proposed introduction of a ‘South East Police Forum’. Cllr. TP meanwhile advises that a date has been set for 8 January at Southside Community Centre (6.30pm). GPCC will look to attend.

11 DATE OF NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY; 18.45 at Cameron House.  

Agenda items should be submitted to the Secretary at least 10 days beforehand. 

2026: 21 Jan, 11 Feb, 18 Mar, 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun.               

APPENDIX 

Action Points 

7.4.1 Local Traffic Improvement Plan: NK to shape funding request submissions.

7.4.2 Living Streets Edinburgh Group (LSEG): PJ to draft a short letter of support for the LSEG case that forthcoming CEC budgeted spend on footway maintenance and improvement warrants a higher priority.

7.4.3. CPZ S8: SG to identify the publication and scope of the proposals for Blackford Newington

KR 

GPCC Office Bearers:  

Ken Robertson, Chair and Secretary 

Ellen-Raissa Jackson, Deputy Chair 

Andreas Grothey, Treasurer  

Cori Schwabe, Community Engagement.