city council – Page 122 – The NEN

Council leader condemns ‘disgraceful behaviour’

Councillor Adam McVey has condemned Saturday’s scenes in the Meadows, thanked the police and praised the efforts of local residents and Council teams in clearing up the mess.

He said: “In the run up to the Bank Holiday Easter weekend we urged people to be responsible, follow the national guidance and respect and care for our parks. So it was shocking to see what happened in the Meadows last night with people behaving appallingly – fighting amongst themselves and with the police.

“This behaviour was simply disgraceful. I want to thank the local residents for the great community spirit they showed by picking up litter and our street cleansing teams who were out early this morning clearing everything up.

“I also want to thank the park rangers and police for their work keeping the majority of responsible residents safe. We’ll continue to work closely with Police Scotland to keep our parks safe for all to enjoy and remind everyone to be responsible over the rest of the holiday weekend and through spring and into summer.”

Police are appealing for information and condemning the disorder seen in The Meadows. Chief Inspector Sarah Taylor of Edinburgh Police Division said: “We are aware of the extent of the disorder seen in The Meadows this weekend and we absolutely condemn this.

“Officers were called to a number of incidents over the course of the day and responded quickly and professionally in the face of some blatant anti-social behaviour.

“Hundreds of people were moved on or dispersed from the area.

“Three people have so far been charged in connection with anti-social behaviour and a serious assault, and we are working to trace others involved in various incidents.

“In particular, we’re eager for anyone who saw a 22-year-old man being attacked around 7.30pm in the Middle Meadow Walk area and also a 17-year-old man being seriously injured in the park around 6.40pm, to come forward.

“Anyone who witnessed these incidents, who has seen information online or has footage which may be relevant is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 1635 of 3 April, 2021. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Be assured that there will be a continued police presence at The Meadows over Easter and the coming weekends, as a minimum. We’ve been working with the council and are committed to tackling these issues together, both in the immediate future and long-term. There will be zero tolerance.”

Officers are also urging people to do the right thing to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

CI Taylor continued: “We’ve urged people to stay local and follow the regulations on gatherings. Saturday saw several thousand people congregate at The Meadows and, disappointingly, some were intent on disorder.

“The coronavirus regulations have had a significant impact on our lives and I would like to thank those who are sticking to the rules and doing the right thing to avoid the spread of the virus as we move through the easing of restrictions.

“Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to engage with the public, explain the legislation and encourage compliance, but we will not hesitate to use our enforcement powers as a last resort.”

Dream home becomes reality for Pauline thanks to Golden Share

For many people, the lure of a new home and upgraded space has become all the more present during the pandemic – with our homes becoming our sanctuaries.

For South Edinburgh mum Pauline, who dreamed of a new-build home after facing issues in older properties, The City of Edinburgh Council’s Golden Share scheme was a chance to make it her reality.

Pauline said: “My past experience in old houses made me turn a corner on what I was after. I was getting fed up of the upkeep, and always struggled to heat the other properties without it costing a fortune.

“I’d always loved the cleanliness and ease of new build properties, they always felt like they were ready to live in when you walked in the door.”

Location, location, location

For Pauline, location was everything. The new home would have to be close to a school for her two sons, as well as being close to her workplace. Ample space and at least three bedrooms were also on her checklist.

After scoping out her ideal locations, Pauline discovered Barratt Homes @ Heritage Grange provided everything she was looking for, at a price she could afford.

She said: “I didn’t know the area was there when I visited the sales office, I sort of found it by accident! In comparison to a lot of the other houses nearby, the matter of being a couple of minutes down the road also made quite a big price difference, despite the Barratt houses offering a lot more.

“It was exciting seeing it go through the different stages, Ross [the sales adviser] kept me updated throughout. Seeing it from its first initial shell, to then having everything finished for moving in, was a really positive journey. They allowed me to move in as soon as it was finished and the builders even took away all of the leftover cardboard and boxes after I had finished un-packing! It was a fantastic buying experience”.

From dream to reality

After seeing it come to life, Pauline and her two sons moved into a three-bedroom, mid-terraced Bonnyton house-type.

“It was exactly what I was after; as soon as you step into the home it feels airy and open. You can also see all the way through into the garden, with a big living dining room area just off it. It is such a difference to the other places we had lived in.

“My favourite area of the house is definitely the back and garden. When you open up the living room patio doors onto the garden, it creates one huge space. The garden itself is a perfect size and has that TARDIS-effect. I’ve managed to build a summerhouse with decking, which I often work in, so there’s an extra room there too.”

“There’s also a great sense of community among the neighbours at the development. There’s groups to keep each other updated and when there has been heavy snowfall, we’ve organised shovelling clear outs.”

Barratt @ Heritage Grange is a development of three and four-bedroom homes on the south side of the capital. Located just 15 minutes away from the city centre, it is the perfect location to enjoy a combination of country and city living in a brand new home.

Why choose Golden Share?

Backed by The City of Edinburgh Council, Golden Share is an affordable housing scheme for eligible first time buyers and existing homeowners, which allows them to purchase a new home at only 80% of its market value.

When speaking about her experience with the Golden Share scheme, Pauline said: “It’s important to be organised as it’s quite a tough process, but very much worth it in the end. I am a part-time educator for the NHS, which met the criteria, and I was able to show that my children had to be in the area, with support for them too. It worked out really well for my situation. If not, I would have been stuck in a small flat, with two growing teenagers!”

“I’d recommend anyone thinking of purchasing through Golden Share to speak to the Barratt Sales team, they were really helpful clearing up any doubts I had. Also visiting the show home was a key part of my house-buying process; it really gave me a better idea of the sizing.”

A number of Barratt Homes developments in the east of Scotland feature properties available for Golden Share, including Barratt @ Heritage Grange and The Strand @ Portobello.

The Strand @ Portobello offers a collection of two and three-bedroom terraced houses and apartments close to the picturesque Portobello beach. With excellent transportation links to Edinburgh city centre and road links around the city, the development also benefits from a number of local amenities close by on Portobello high street.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/offers/golden-share/

Council Leaders’ Easter message: Stay safe, stay local and keep Edinburgh beautiful

Council Leaders are calling on Edinburgh citizens to enjoy the springtime festivities safely, considerately and locally while Covid restrictions are still in place.

Weather forecasters are predicting long spells of sunshine and mild temperatures this weekend, meaning thousands of people are expected to flock to enjoy the bank holiday weekend in the many parks and beauty spots around the Capital.

From today [Friday 2 April], Scotland’s ‘Stay at Home’ advice changes to ‘Stay Local’, as part of the national roadmap out of lockdown.

This means people can leave their homes for purposes other than work, exercise or to buy food, but there is still a restriction on travelling outwith your local authority area, unless it’s essential.

Recent media reports and social media coverage have highlighted significant amounts of litter left behind in parks such as the Meadows, where there have also been incidents involving illegal gatherings and antisocial behaviour such as public urination and toileting.

Council waste and cleansing workers will be targeting resources in the Meadows and other popular destinations over the Easter break, with extra collections of large litter bins in targeted areas.

The Council continues to work very closely with Police Scotland to address antisocial behaviour. Following recent incidents of antisocial behaviour and breaches of Covid restrictions in the Meadows, including on the evening of Tuesday 30 March when a large gathering was dispersed by Police Scotland, visible police patrols will continue in the area throughout the Easter period.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “I want to pay tribute to everyone in the city who’s worked so hard and sacrificed so much to keep themselves, their loved ones and our whole community safe through this dreadful pandemic.

“As things start to ease up, it’ll be wonderful to begin enjoying some of the things we’ve all missed so much, but we have to take things slow and steady, or we risk setting ourselves back again.

“This Easter weekend is a great opportunity to meet up safely with friends and family, in line with the guidance. I know the vast majority of citizens will enjoy our fabulous open spaces responsibly, leaving the areas as they’d expect to find them.

“Sadly, some people don’t always behave quite so considerately, so our sincere plea to everyone is to respect and care for our parks, beaches and greenspaces while you’re visiting them. If there’s no bin or the bin’s full awaiting one of our regular patrols to empty it, please take your litter home with you. The Council teams are working hard to keep our green spaces clean but please remember your rubbish is your responsibility.

“Remember the need to Stay Local, too – we can’t run the risk right now of the virus travelling between local authority areas. It will be safe again to travel within Scotland before too long if we all stick together and help keep the case rates down. If we stick at it and do our bit now, it won’t be long before we all reap the benefits.”

Council Depute Leader Cammy Day said: Edinburgh is an amazingly beautiful city and we’re so lucky to have so much access to nature and green spaces. So it’s really disheartening to see images of parks and beaches disfigured by litter and dog fouling – there’s absolutely no excuse for it.

“We’re urging everyone who’s planning a visit to a beauty spot this Easter weekend – or anytime, for that matter – to remember that these fantastic spaces are for every single one of us to enjoy.

“Please clean up after yourselves (and your dogs!) for the next person or family who comes along. We want to see the same community-mindedness and respect for each other’s wellbeing that shone out in Edinburgh’s response to the pandemic replicated in the way people treat our shared spaces.”

Chief Superintendent Sean Scott, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said: “The coronavirus regulations have had a significant impact on our lives and I would like to thank the vast majority of people who are sticking to the rules and doing the right thing to avoid the spread of the virus as we move through the easing of restrictions.

“People should not travel outwith their local authority area except for essential purposes. While Easter weekend is traditionally a time for visiting friends and family, I would urge people to stay local and follow the regulations on gatherings.

“If you are visiting beauty spots within your local area, do so safely and respectfully – leaving no trace of your visit. Please also park responsibly to allow emergency access.

As well as the Stay Local change from 2 April, other adjustments to the national Covid restrictions will see garden centres, hairdressers, car dealerships, click and collect retail services and homeware stores, among others, able to reopen from 5 April.

The Council’s own much-loved Inch Plant Nursery will reopen for plant sales from Wednesday 7 April (appointments should be booked by email).

Information on any changes to Council services is updated regularly on our dedicated web pages at edinburgh.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Social media messaging on litter, dog fouling and public urination will be ramped up on the Council’s social media channels throughout the Easter period, along with reminders on the changes to national guidance so people understand which measures have been relaxed or amended.

Digital boost for Edinburgh pupils

Every school pupil from P6 to S6 in Edinburgh will receive their own digital device as part of an ambitious and inclusive education strategy, Edinburgh Learns for Life.

The 1:1 roll out, being carried out in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council’s ICT services provider CGI, will start from September thanks to a £17.6m boost to learning and teaching. In addition to the personal distribution additional iPads will be also be issued to P1 to P5 year groups on an agreed ratio.

Key elements of the Empowered Learning programme, which will see a phased roll out of all the devices completed by the end of 2022, include: 27,000 new iPads being issued to pupils/staff, refreshed iPads for up to 12,000 pupils/staff and expanding the wireless connectivity in schools by providing wireless access points and a comprehensive programme of professional learning for teachers.

Benefits for young people include:

Fair and equal access from P6 to S6, ensuring all pupils have personal access to digital learning with their teacher in school or at home
Effective digital workflow to increase engagement, improve teacher feedback and raise attainment
A range of innovative accessibility features to improve access to the curriculum for pupils with additional support needs
Pupils can work online simultaneously in a class or collaboratively outside the classroom
High quality digital applications for productivity and creativity, providing more ways to personalise and choose how they learn
Development of learning, thinking and digital literacy skills vital for success in today’s rapidly evolving, technological society

The roll-out meets a key element of one of the 15 outcomes and actions from the Council’s three year business plan ‘Our Future Council, Our Future City’: ‘increasing attainment for all and reducing the poverty-related attainment gap’.

The business plan was approved by Councillors during their budget meeting on 18 February where they also agreed £8m funding for additional digital devices.

The 1:1 programme reinforces our commitment to becoming one of the world’s ‘smartest cities’ – last year Edinburgh was listed in the Smart City of Year Digital 100 shortlist following recent work by the Council, CGI and other providers to enhance connectivity and embrace new technologies.

The roll-out also meets Article 29 (goals of education) for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which highlights the importance of developing every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full.

Councillor Ian Perry, Education Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a really exciting project which is going to be a real game-changer for the learning and teaching in our schools.

“Giving pupils their own device has been shown to improve outcomes and result in increased engagement and motivation for our young people. It will create a learning environment which will drive higher levels of creativity also improve teacher and learner collaboration.

“The roll out will build on the skills developed by our teaching staff by having many more opportunities to use digital technology and create effective digital leadership teams in all our schools. In addition to giving pupils their own devices we’ll make sure the IT infrastructure is in place by increasing the bandwidth capacity and wi-fi connectivity in our schools.”

Councillor Alison Dickie, Education Vice Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This 1:1 roll out fits with the three goals of Edinburgh learns for Life – to transform, connect and empower.

“Giving every young person from P6 upwards their own device, is yet another tool in the educational toolbox to support and ensure the fullest potential of every child.

“It’s so important for all our young people to have equal access as lockdown demonstrated quite starkly how some of our young people struggled because they didn’t have their own device.

“It’s essential that each learner is on a level playing field so the equity gap in Edinburgh does not widen. It will help equip all of our young people with the skills required for the modern workplace and our way of life in the digital age.”

Lindsay McGranaghan, CGI Vice President and Scotland Business Unit Lead, said: “We are delighted to be undertaking this project with the City of Edinburgh Council. We look forward to working in partnership to provide an effective and exciting digital solution for nearly 40,000 pupils and teachers.

“Empowered Learning provides a learning environment that’s engaging and inspirational. It directly tackles the attainment gap, and recognises the key role of educators in delivering a digital classroom. Through Empowered Learning, educators can create and tailor lessons to personalise learning and access new ways of bringing teaching to life.

“Above all, Empowered Learning helps educators provide learning that is richer and more rewarding for both pupils, and for their parents, while also providing the highest level of security and safety standards.”

Hogmanay Heights

Edinburgh Castle to become student accommodation and will double as exclusive holiday lets

There has been a furious reaction to news that Edinburgh Castle has been sold – and will be converted into top of the range student accommodation.

The city council says the sale will do much to change the capital’s old-fashioned image but heritage groups say the sale of the castle is an act of barbarism

Glen Morangie, marketing director of Historic Environment Edinburgh, confirmed: “The decision was a no brainer. The building has been lying idle for over a year and it’s beginning to show it’s age.

“The city council has ambitious plans for the city centre so we have decided that now is the time to think outside the box and jump on the bandwagon. Make no mistake, this plan is a win, win.

“The building, which will be renamed Hogmanay Heights, will be converted into as many student flats as we can legally get away with – and as a major plus we have negotiated a deal with the city council to take over Princes Street Gardens.

“The gardens will be coverted into a huge drying space – which we’ll call The Back Green – to enable students to dry their laundry. This is to compensate for the lack of space in the flats – to be honest you won’t be able to swing a cat in them, but students don’t really care about that sort of thing. Laundry, I mean.”

Essential Edinburgh also has plans for Hogmanay Heights during the summer and winter breaks.

Mr Morangie continued: “We’ll send the students packing at end of term, give the flats a quick spruce up and let them out – at exhorbitant rates – to tourists. Visitors to Edinburgh are used to being ripped off so they’ll lap it up – it’s all part of the unique Edinburgh experience!”

Rupert Morningside-Merchiston, a ‘change champion’ consultant for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “There are exciting times ahead in the capital. After a year of pandemic misery this is just the tonic that the citizens of Edinburgh want and need – not that we’ve asked them, of course.

“Rest assured, the city centre will be transformed. The boring old fuddy-duddy stuff will be gone for ever – the trees, the flowers and the statues will be replaced with line after line of crisp clean laundry blowing in the breeze. Auld Reekie no more: and Edinburgh – sponsored by Persil – will lead the way once again.”

The Esplanade will become a massive bicycle shed, which causes a major problem for the organisers of Edinburgh’s world famous Tattoo.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s Pipe Major Ruaridh Bannockburn said: “Of course we’ll miss Edinburgh Castle but times are changing, everyone’s cutting back and shows of miltary might ain’t what they used to be.

“Oddly enough, our very first Tattoo was a small event staged at the Ross Bandstand back in 1949, and it seems that we must now go back to our roots and stage a drastically scaled down Tattoo once again.

“With Underbelly’s permission we will be performing ‘Twa’ Pipers Ana’, Ana’ in a phonebox near the Ross Bandstand this August. Buy your tickets now, but remember to bring your own seat – the prices Underbelly charge are eye-watering!”

Archie Brunstane-Bingham, chairman of the Old Town Preservation Society, was unavailable for comment. It’s understood he’s moved to Glasgow.

Free virtual conference on impact of pandemic on children for people working with Edinburgh families

Supporting children during the pandemic and beyond, is the focus of a free online conference being held for people working with families in Edinburgh.

The virtual conference has been organised by Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland to mark the end of a year-long campaign launched to encourage families in the city to access support and advice.

Anyone who works with children or families in Edinburgh can sign up to the conference, which is being hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, April 13^th, between 2pm and 5pm.

Speakers will look at how the pandemic has impacted children, the ways in which organisations have adapted to help struggling families and what has been learned during the last year.

Attendees will hear about the All of Us campaign, which was launched to prevent child neglect by encouraging families to get help at an early stage and giving advice on how to support those who were struggling.

There will also be an opportunity for people to discuss how to better support children and families in Edinburgh in the future.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “The pandemic has presented many hardships for families, including financial pressures, school closures, relationship strains, isolation and ill-health, and it has been more important than ever that people feel they can reach out for support and advice and get help.

“Organisations in Edinburgh have worked hard to find ways to adapt and support families while social distancing measures have been in place. This conference will give us the opportunity to look at what we have learned over the last year and how we can best support families in Edinburgh in the future.”

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “We know that even as we move out of lockdown, people will continue to experience the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

“Protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us and we want everyone across the city to be aware of where to turn for help if they or someone they know is struggling.

“It is crucial that we work together to find the best ways of supporting families across the city during this difficult time and beyond.”

Early last year, as part of the campaign, a number of community events were held across the city but further ones were cancelled because of Covid-19 and all activities were moved online, including workshops, seminars and a family fun-day.

In April, the partnership brought together information on its web page about organisations and contacts where families could go for help and support during lockdown.

This included information on support offered by public services, voluntary agencies and charities. Some examples were food banks, financial advice, crisis loans, mental health support, activities for children and support and advice on home learning.

The information was sent in food boxes to more than 300 families across the city and via email to parents through schools, and it was highlighted through social media campaigns. This resource has continued to be regularly updated throughout the pandemic.

The campaign raised awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who were struggling through lunchtime learning sessions and webinars.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus.

To sign up for the conference visit bit.ly/3w3UCjK or email allofus@safefamilies.uk.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm.

People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.

Safety First: New safety signage on Portobello beach

Police Scotland is working with the The City of Edinburgh Council and Maritime and Coastguard Agency to help make Portobello Beach safer for all.

This week, the Council will install new numbered signs on the top of the existing groyne beach defences at Portobello Beach.

In an emergency, direct experience tells us roads signs cannot be easily seen from the beach so the new signs will be much more visible, improving safety.

They measure approx. 600mm high and 450mm wide.

Numbered 1 to 6, the emergency services can use these numbered signs to plot your location in an emergency (see map).

Marker 1 – Pipe Lane
Marker 2 – Bath Street
Marker 3 – Bellfield Street
Marker 4 – John Street
Marker 5 – Bedford Terrace
Marker 6 – End of promenade at Joppa Road

Police will continue working with our partners as the year continues at Portobello.

In a coastal emergency, please dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Edinburgh businesses urged to apply for £4k Discretionary Grant

Eligible Edinburgh businesses who have seen a minimum 20% shortfall in their income as a result of Covid-19 restrictions since the start of the pandemic can now apply for a one-off £4,000 grants.

The City of Edinburgh Council has been awarded just over £10 million in the second tranche of Discretionary Grant funding and applications are open on the Council’s website.

This fund is aimed at reaching businesses who have otherwise ‘slipped through the cracks’ in terms of funding initiatives, meaning those who have not already been eligible for other financial support from central government since October (other than the furlough scheme, the self-employed income support scheme or the newly self-employed hardship fund).

To apply for a £4,000 grant, businesses must submit a self-declaration of their business’s income in January and February 2020 as well as January and February 2021. A 20% decrease in the average income over the two time periods will be required in order to be eligible.

In addition, businesses with employees that have successfully applied for Discretionary Grant funding, either in this or the earlier tranche in February, will have access to extra funding specifically to help them retain their staff. This will be applied through a tiered approach, depending on the number of people they employ, and for those businesses with employees on PAYE (not owners, directors or partners).

Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “This year has been incredibly difficult for businesses in our city, and we know how hard people have had to work to keep going. We now have £10 million available to help businesses in Edinburgh and we just want to get the funds out to them as quickly as possible.

“We want to make sure nobody’s missing their chance at accessing financial support so I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t already applied to visit the application page on our website, check the eligibility criteria, and apply today.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener said: “We know businesses have been hit desperately hard in this pandemic and it’s crucial that we’re able to get this funding into the accounts of everyone who’s eligible and who hasn’t been able to access previous schemes due to not meeting the criteria. Please apply today and let us give you the money you’re entitled to.“

Yesterday’s launch of online applications marks the second phase of Discretionary Fund awards in 2021.

On 3 February, the Council invited applications for grants from the first tranche of Discretionary Funding allocated to the city, totalling just under £2.8m.

At that stage, grants were for £2,000 and aimed at businesses that could show a significant drop in income due to Covid restrictions introduced since October. Any businesses who successfully applied for this amount earlier in the year will now have this sum topped up to £4,000 to bring them in line with recipients in this second round of funding. They do not need to reapply.

During the first tranche the criteria was initially set at a 30% income loss, however this was later revised to 20% following ongoing dialogue with businesses. It is hoped more businesses will apply and enable themselves to benefit from funding in this second round in light of the revised income reduction threshold.

Applications will be open for a period of four weeks, or until all the funding has been allocated, and will be processed in the order they are received.

Sunday parking restrictions to be introduced next month

Changes to some parking restrictions will come into force in Edinburgh from Sunday, 11 April.

The city council is introducing Sunday afternoon parking restrictions in the city centre, as well as rolling out shared use parking bays across the city, meaning either permit holders or pay and display customers can use the same spaces.

Sunday parking charges recognise the fact that, under normal circumstances, Edinburgh is now a seven-day city, with many shops, restaurants and visitor attractions open throughout the week.

New controls, in place from 12.30pm to 6.30pm every Sunday, will help us manage the way people park, which can restrict traffic movement, impact on the ability to service shops and businesses and, most importantly, pose a safety risk to other road users. The changes will bring us in line with many other UK cities which already charge for Sunday parking, including Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.

Shared use parking, which is being introduced in Controlled Parking Zones one to eight, increases accessibility to parking spaces for both residents and visitors, allowing for more flexibility. This has also allowed us to introduce visitor parking permits to these zones, making it easier for people to visit residents.

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “These updated controls are about improving conditions in the city centre, creating a safer environment and tackling inconsiderate parking, as well as providing greater flexibility for residents to park nearer their homes.

“Under normal circumstances, there is no doubt Edinburgh is a seven-day city, and we simply must address this as restrictions begin to be lifted and people return to the centre for shopping and socialising.

“We want to support businesses to recover from the COVID pandemic and greater parking controls on a Sunday will encourage customer turnover, allow more access for servicing and create a more pleasant atmosphere for everyone.

“The Parking Action Plan was developed with the city’s residents in mind, and measures like shared use parking will provide greater flexibility and the opportunity to park closer to home for many permit-holders.

“Along with Sunday parking controls, these changes are central to our broader ambitions to manage demand and rethink the way people move around Edinburgh.”

The new controls are being introduced as part of the Parking Action Plan, which was approved by Transport and Environment Committee in 2016. The plan is key to realising our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 and supports the City Mobility Plan, a ten-year strategy to rethink the way people and goods move in and around the city, reducing the dominance of traffic and creating streets and spaces for people.

Parking initiatives will help reduce car use and congestion, improve safety and air quality and encourage walking, cycling and public transport use.

Controls will help people with mobility impairments, both those who rely on public transport (which is often impeded by poor parking) and blue badge holders, who can be impacted by unrestricted parking leading to fewer available spaces. We also want to provide better flexibility and deliver best value for residents.

Sunday parking restrictions will cover Controlled Parking Zones one to four, incorporating city centre streets like George Street, Castle Terrace and Chambers Street. Shared use parking will also be implemented here, as well as zones five to eight, which includes areas of the city such as Stockbridge, New Town, Newington and Bruntsfield.

Find out more about the changes and the Parking Action Plan on the Council website.

Auld Reekie waives the rules!

Capital hospitality prepares for lockdown easing

Following extensive lobbying by Essential Edinburgh, The City of Edinburgh Council is supporting the hospitality sector to help make the most of outdoor space safely in the city centre when lockdown restrictions ease in April.

Measures include waiving permit fees for tables and chairs, suspending kerbside parking to make room for additional outside seating until the end of the summer season, and closing two blocks of George Street for events.

Under the current roadmap for relaxing Covid measures in Scotland hospitality businesses will be able to operate within restricted hours from 26 April. Outdoor hospitality, with alcohol, will be permitted until 10pm, while food but can be served indoors, without alcohol, until an 8pm closing time.

From this date, outdoor socialising rules will also be relaxed so that a maximum of six adults from three households can meet up.

To help hospitality businesses recover more quickly, the Council has agreed that fees will be waived for outdoor area occupation permits until at least 30 September 2021.

This measure will apply across the city meaning all Edinburgh hospitality businesses are eligible, provided they apply for and obtain the relevant road occupation permit. Where appropriate, kerbside parking charges will also be suspended to accommodate outdoor area occupation permits.

In addition, the Council has been working very closely with Essential Edinburgh to help create more space for businesses to operate outdoors in the George Street / BID area, with proposals to close sections of George Street and reconfigure kerbside space, with kerbside parking suspended.

The proposals would see the sections from Charlotte Square to Castle Street and Castle Street to Frederick Street closed in their entirety (excepting disabled and emergency access, counter-terrorism measures, loading and cycle lanes) similar to past ‘event’ arrangements on the street such as the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) and the associated liaison with local businesses, Essential Edinburgh and the George Street Association, among other stakeholders, would be required to facilitate this event setting. If there is an appetite for these closures to go ahead, it’s anticipated they could be delivered within six to eight weeks of an initial TTRO application.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “It’s been an incredibly tough year for the hospitality sector so we’ve been listening carefully to what businesses need and doing whatever we can to help them recover as safely and sustainably as possible as things start to ease up restrictions-wise.

“We’ve been working really closely with Essential Edinburgh and other businesses and organisations to develop these proposals to help traders make the most of outdoor space and safely cater to as many people as possible over the brighter spring and summer months.

“It’s very important we strike the right balance, to make sure we’re not inadvertently making life more difficult for others. That’s why it’ll be key for Essential Edinburgh and other organisations to get the buy-in of affected businesses in the plans and discussions. That will ensure that interventions get as wide as possible support and benefit as many traders as possible.

“Throughout this crisis we’ve been doing as much as we can to support businesses in the city centre and right across the city so that we can help Edinburgh build back better. This work with the hospitality sector is the latest strand of that work and we’ll continue to work with all sectors to protect jobs and aid their recovery.”

Depute Council Leader Cammy Day said: “After such a long time staying at home, people will be champing at the bit to get out into the warmer weather and meet up safely with their friends and family again as restrictions start to relax later this month.

“Last summer we waived tables and chairs permit fees to help restaurants and bars make the most of outdoor space so we want to give the sector the same lift this time round too.

“Attracting more people to these outdoor hospitality areas will also boost footfall for surrounding retail businesses as they reopen their doors. People will look forward to planning a trip into town or to their local high street for a bite to eat and a browse round the shops, giving a much longed-for lift to our local traders.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: “We welcome the support that the Council are giving the city’s hospitality businesses both in the provision of outdoor space and the waiving of costs.

“It is imperative that we maximise the space available to allow hospitality to operate effectively as we adapt to the changing roadmap regulations.

“The Council has listened to the business community and is acting quickly, for which we are very appreciative.”

Supporting business and retaining jobs is a key priority for the Council as the pandemic continues. So far, the Council has administered more than £181.4 million in grants to over 19,000 businesses.