JUNE 2025 MEETING - Report

Minutes of GPCC Ordinary Business Meeting held on Wednesday, 18 JUNE 2025 (19.00)

at Cameron House Community Centre, 34 Prestonfield Avenue, Edinburgh

(Approved at Meeting held on 17 September 2025)

ATTENDANCE

Ward Councillor: Cllr. Steve Burgess

Office Bearers: Chair and Secretary, Ken Robertson (KR); Deputy Chair, Ellen-Raissa Jackson (ERJ); Treasurer, Andreas Grothey (AG); Engagement Officer, Cori Schwabe (CS).

Members: Peter Jones (PJ), Neil Kempsell (NK), Hrafn Malmquist (HM), Ian Wright (IW).

Apologies: Ian Chisholm (IC), Peter Cochrane (PC), Sally Griffiths (SG).

1. WELCOME: Chair

Audio or Video Recording: None. Members of Public present: None.

2. APOLOGIES: Declared

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (21 May 2025)

Ordinary Business Meeting Report – Approved (NK, CS)

5. MATTERS ARISING NOT COVERED IN AGENDA - None

6. EXTERNAL REPORTS

6.1 Councillors’ Report – Cllr. Burgess

6.1.1 Priestfield Road / Prestonfield Road Design Improvements

This street tree and footway build-out project has stalled for now on concerns voiced about installing new trees along Priestfield Road. The Prestonfield Road design element will likely go ahead; timing uncertain. There are no budgeted plans for road surface repair or upgrade outside of the overall design improvement package.

6.1.2 Prestonfield Bowling Green

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) is leading the shared community growing garden project into early design, with £50,000 funding from the food growing initiatives budget and a £500 grant from Balfour Beatty. ELGT is working to support the formation of a local group to take on management and stewardship of the space. See: Prestonfield bowling green – Thriving Greenspaces If you are interested in taking part, contact Cllr. Burgess on Steve.Burgess@edinburgh.gov.uk .

6.1.3 Introduction of Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to city area ‘B1’ 

B1 runs east-west across the upper half of the GPCC boundary area. Priority Parking Areas (PPA) with part-time restrictions will be replaced by a Controlled Parking Zone where all kerbside space is managed.

The proposals are under consultation until 4 July 2025. Submit your support, objections or comment for your particular area directly to the Council consultation website Strategic parking review – The City of Edinburgh Council . Look specifically for ‘View the proposal for B1 PPA’. This is the best way to make your individual opinions known.

(Note: Ward Councillor coverage of GPCC meetings is conducted on a shared rota basis across Cllrs. Kumar, Burgess, Flannery and Pogson.)

7. REPORTS OF INTEREST GROUPS

7.1 Engagement – CS                

CS will lead a review group (with HM and IW) on GPCC community engagement objectives, target groups, priorities and most effective media. Facebook facility under review.

KR to make fresh contact with Edinburgh University King’s Buildings Liaison Officer.  

7.2 Planning

GPCC responded to the Council’s recent Purpose-Built Student Accommodation consultation, tabling concerns over the pace of local PBSA developments and the pressure this threatens to put on local service infrastructure capacities, specifically healthcare and related services, threatening in turn the perceived character of the local community.

GPCC responded with measured objections to the Planning Application (25/02258/FUL) for PBSA at 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace.

GPCC notes the forthcoming consultation and potential Planning Application for PBSA at 140 Causewayside and alerts readers to the public exhibition on the proposals to be held at Newington Trinity Church on 17 July (3.30pm to 7.30pm).

GPCC notes press reports that concerns about PBSA over-supply are raising the question of moratoria on new build.

GPCC notes the Planning Application submitted for change of use at 50-52 Ratcliffe Terrace, from 1A shop to 3 Full Restaurant.

7.3 Licensing                  Nil

7.4 Roads and Transport

7.4.1 Kilgraston Road – Grange Loan Road Junction

This is a busy junction, contested by free-flowing traffic from north and south and traffic seeking to cross east to west and vice-versa. Cyclists and pedestrians (nursery age to elderly) can be in jeopardy. The risks have been tabled with Ward Councillors.

This junction has been recognised (to date) as a ‘priority’ for review within the City Mobility Plan (CMP) major junctions review project. However, on account of overall funding pressures, there has now been a comprehensive reassessment of the capital spend investment plan within CMP. The major junctions review project has been closed.

Cllr. Pauline Flannery, having tabled questions with the Transport & Environment Committee, advises (18 June) there are no plans currently to progress identifiable improvements at this location. It has been subsumed within the Marchmont to Blackford Active Travel Route project which has itself been paused.

## Cllr Tim Pogson confirms (1 July) CEC stance that (external) funding pressures impede the priority actions set out in the City Mobility Plan, as a result of which plans for improvements to this junction are on hold, though under annual review.

7.4.2 Controlled Parking Zone B1 to S8 

GPCC notes the intention to tighten restrictions on Blackford Avenue around the Post Office and Avenue Stores convenience shopping hub. This is the only site of its type across Zone B1 and beyond. For a small gain in parking revenue stream from a small number of (30 minutes free) adjacent parking spaces, a significant loss in community amenity is threatened and the loss-of-trade impact on the retail units could be meaningful.

7.4.3 Paving Slabs on Princes Street

Mention was made of the incidence of minor injuries arising to pedestrians from tripping over ill-placed / out of place paving slabs. Noted by Cllr. Burgess. First recourse is to report the issue to the Council: Report a road or pavement problem – The City of Edinburgh Council

7.4.4 Pedestrian crossways at East Mayfield /Dalkeith Road.

Noted that green light-guided crossways function ‘east to west’ but are not in place ‘north to south’. Constitutes an unwelcome pedestrian risk. Ties in with a recent ‘walk to school’ risk assessment for Preston Street Primary parents and children. Current road safety improvement plans for the school are focused on the pavement-widening / build-out around the corner perimeter; work to be completed in the coming months. Recognised that difficulties remain with the ‘walking routes to school’.

7.5 Environment           Nil

7.6 Newington Cemetery

New planters in place. Working Parties active. Cllr Burgess reports that the Dalkeith Road wall repair has just been completed. The wall at the Cameron Toll roundabout was rejoined a week ago; related steel work and fencing is on order.

8. REPORTS FROM OFFICE BEARERS

8.1 Chair: Community councillors urged to respond to the CEC survey on the recent community council elections.

https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/ce/7fe8bca2/

8.2 Treasurer: GPCC account balance stands at £5680. Community Council A/c = £1623; Friends of Newington Cemetery A/c = £4057.

9 REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS: EACC

Next meeting is on 26 June (Teams), featuring Police Scotland Partnership Superintendent, Paul Gillespie, on Community Policing, followed by a community councillor round-table Q&A on Community engagement; good practice, and pitfalls

10 GPCC SHAPE AND STRUCTURE      Held over

11 DATE OF NEXT MEETING     Wednesday 17 September at Cameron House (18.45)

ACTION POINTS ARISING

7.1        Engagement Review: Thoughts, ideas, proposals to CS: All members.

7.1        Edinburgh University KB Liaison Officer; make new contact: KR             

Agenda items should be submitted to the Secretary no later than 10 days before the next meeting.

GPCC Office Bearers: Ken Robertson, chair and Secretary; Ellen-Raissa Jackson, Deputy Chair; Andreas Grothey, Treasurer; Cori Schwabe, Community Engagement.

Report prepared 8 September 2025

KR