APRIL 2024 MEETING - Summary

17 April 2024 Meeting: (Cllr. Tim Pogson in attendance)

Community Grants Fund 2024/25: The allocation for Southside & Newington is £29400. Grants of up to £5000 can be awarded per application. Prestonfield Bowling Green may be in the frame by way of Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. Community Grants Fund – The City of Edinburgh Council

Cameron Toll Roundabout: Work and congestion continue. May 10th completion targeted.

Grange Association Fair: Saturday 18 May at Newington Library. See: Home - The Grange Association

Prestonfield Road & Priestfield Road: Street tree enhancement consultation planned and resurfacing in the pipeline.

Blackett Area: Reports of cases of vandalism, minor car damage and ASB.

Student Housing Development: The density of student accommodation provision continues to rise in the Southside (and elsewhere). Got any strong views on this trend? Contact us.

‘Our Future Streets’: The council’s long-range plans for travel and mobility in the city: far-reaching programme; big change; big upheaval; trams are just a part of it. Long way to go though.

City Budget: Council opens public consultation on future service delivery against projected budget deficits.

20 March 2024 Meeting: (Cllr. Tim Pogson in attendance)

Communal bin hub installations: Phased roll-out after the 2023 council consultation programme, which has largely gone beyond the ‘room for discussion phase’.

Cameron Toll Roundabout: Big disruption unavoidable until mid-May at least. Lifting of bus-gate at Prestonfield Avenue for 4 weeks helps but watch out for heavier traffic volumes.

The Council’s Budget for 2024-25: Labour Administration’s budget approved; prioritises roads, footways and drainage; no cuts to education. Financial pressures unabated though.

Council consultation on the future of libraries: What are the key services and activities they deliver for you? What more would you like to see? Check the survey at https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/

Planning Application: Student Accommodation at 27-31 Ratcliffe Terrace: GPCC will oppose on design and on the steady rise in the density of student developments within the area.

Newington Cemetery: Wall repair still underway; very slow progress, attributed to council work scheduling. Local Cllr. Pogson making further enquiries.

21 February 2024 Meeting: (Cllr. Simita Kumar in attendance)

Community Council Scheme and Boundary Review: Phase 2 consultation underway. No changes proposed for GPCC structure. Next elections could be in Q3.

Cameron Toll Roundabout: Deep culvert damage; repairs likely to stretch into April. Disruption and delays unavoidable.

Roadworks: Dalkeith Road / Salisbury Place: No provision for safe pedestrian transit or crossing. Local Cllr. Kumar to raise this as a safety issue with the Council.

Pavement Parking: Explicit restrictions now in force; few exemptions.

Council Budget: Contending with big shortfall concerns, this year and in the future. The main issues are provision for roads, footways and road safety, and education.

Bus Trackers: New bus stop timetable indicators won’t be properly functional (with live times) for maybe another six months; software and equipment issues.

Newington Cemetery: Volunteer work continues on tree-trail signage and tidy-up.