As the countdown begins to the introduction of Edinburgh’s visitor levy on 1 October 2025, the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is expressing serious concerns over the lack of official guidance and support for accommodation providers.
Since the introduction of the short-term let licensing legislation, the ASSC worked tirelessly to support Scottish operators through the transition, offering practical, reliable information and hands-on assistance where government failed to engage.
In 2022, ASSC CEO Fiona Campbell MBE and licensing solicitor Joanna Millar launched a nationwide Regulations Roadshow to help demystify the legislation and empower operators to comply, delivering 26 such events and partnering with many local councils, reaching nearly 10,000 people.
The ASSC also developed a suite of comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions, now in Version 7, which was widely adopted by VisitScotland.
The ASSC had intended to replicate this model – achieved without meaningful support or funding from the Scottish Government – to help operators in advance of the Visitor Levy going live in Edinburgh.
However, with less than 10 weeks to go, this has proved impossible due to the complete absence of guidance from either the Scottish Government or Edinburgh Council.
The outstanding issues include:
No business-specific guidance – only deficient guidance intended for local authorities
No clarity on VAT status
No method of calculation
No confirmed exemptions framework
No timing confirmed for collection (e.g. at booking, on arrival, or departure)
No detail on how the Levy aligns with the Digital Markets Act
A delayed National Portal, not due until March 2026
No consumer-facing communications strategy.
This lack of preparedness raises serious questions about how the scheme can be implemented fairly, consistently, or without negative consequences for businesses.
The ASSC is calling for immediate clarity from both the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council, and remains ready to support a pragmatic and effective rollout of the Visitor Levy – if and when the necessary tools are put in place.
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the ASSC, said: “We were fully prepared to run another national roadshow to support our members and the wider accommodation sector through this significant change – but we simply cannot provide clarity where there is none.
“It is unacceptable that, with just weeks to go, businesses still have no official guidance on the most basic operational aspects of the Visitor Levy. Once again, industry is left to pick up the pieces.
“We are committed to constructive engagement and practical solutions, but we cannot continue to operate in an information vacuum.
“Scotland’s accommodation providers and guests deserve better than this. The clock is ticking and the Scottish Government and Edinburgh Council need to act now.”
We object to the advertised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO/24/27 bit.ly/3IFOQQ6) allowing two-way cycling on Rose Street.
The idea of promoting two-way cycling on the street was raised in a report to the Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) on 30 January 2025, as a means to facilitate cycling across the city while the CCWEL route through George Street is not yet in place. We made our objection to this proposal at that time.
The Council’s own report recognised that “integrating cyclists into a space primarily designed for pedestrians presents challenges. The narrow width of Rose Street, combined with the high footfall at certain times, could lead to safety concerns between cycling and walking/wheeling. With no dedicated cycling infrastructure, conflict could be created between users.”
It is not appropriate in our view to encourage Rose Street – the closest thing Edinburgh currently has to a pedestrianised street – as a major cycle route.
The proposal does not respect the Council’s agreed travel hierarchy which places walking and wheeling first. The TRO is especially inappropriate given that the TEC recently decided that two way cycle access should be maintained on George Street itself during any redevelopment works.
WORK is well underway on the Wester Hailes development, marking a key step forward in the Council’s long-term vision to transform the area.
Located at the former Wester Hailes Health Centre site at 7 Murrayburn Gate, the Council has appointed CCG (Scotland) Ltd to deliver 73 net-zero carbon homes.
The development will offer a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats – all affordable housing, with five properties designed to be wheelchair accessible.
It will also include a central recreational space with play facilities, a rain garden, structured landscaping, private gardens and terraces, and excellent access to pedestrian and cycle routes.
As part of a wider regeneration initiative, the project aims to support the creation of a model 20-minute neighbourhood – where residents can access work, education, shops, and services within a short walk or cycle from their homes.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “I am delighted to see the work progressing on our ambitious plans to transform Wester Hailes into one of Edinburgh’s 20-minute neighbourhoods.
“I also warmly welcome the direct benefits to local people which this development will deliver in terms of employment and training opportunities.
“These new homes at Murrayburn Gate will deliver much-needed high-quality, net-zero carbon housing and provide improved access to green spaces and community services – all essential attributes of thriving and inclusive local communities, and reflective of our efforts to address Edinburgh’s ongoing Housing Emergency.”
CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “We are delighted to have commenced construction at Murrayburn Gate – another example of how the City of Edinburgh Council and CCG are working together to address localised housing needs and demand across the city region.
“The development is set to have a positive impact on the Wester Hailes community, not only through the delivery of high-quality, highly energy efficient homes, but also by job creation, various training opportunities, and localised charitable investment . I look forward to seeing how the development progresses over months ahead, as we work towards full completion in late-2026.”
As part of the project, CCG will deliver a broad programme of community benefits throughout the EH14 postcode area and beyond, in partnership with the Council. These include employment and training opportunities, as well as support for local initiatives during the construction phase.
Residents and business owners in Portobello and Joppa have united in a forceful joint objection to the City of Edinburgh Council’s proposed Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ), issuing a formal legal warning and threatening court action if the scheme moves forward in its current form.
Community momentum is building ahead of the Traffic Regulation Order Sub-Committee’s meeting this autumn, where a decision on whether to proceed with the controversial plan is expected.
In a detailed letter submitted to local councillors, council officers, and members of the Sub-Committee, the group accuses the Council of advancing a “procedurally flawed, substantively unsound, and potentially unlawful” plan.
The residents and traders argue that the proposal lacks public support, is built on unreliable data, and would inflict lasting damage on the local economy.
The objection highlights the Council’s 2021 informal consultation, where a clear majority of respondents expressed opposition to the Controlled Parking Zone. Despite these results, the Council proceeded to the statutory consultation phase, leading to accusations of a pre-determined outcome and disregard for public opinion.
One of the campaign’s organisers, Nikki Middleton, said: “Not only did the vast majority of people consulted reject the proposals, but the Council ran the consultation during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel and parking patterns were completely unrepresentative. How is that a fair reflection of public opinion?
“The Council also failed to consult Joppa residents at all, despite extending the CPZ boundary to include this area. Drawing lines on a map without considering those communities undermines people’s voices and is not a fair representation. These are not just technical errors – they represent a fundamental disregard for transparency and democracy.”
The group also raised alarm over the Council’s failure to document a public meeting held in May this year at Portobello Town Hall. The meeting was attended by more than 500 residents and business owners, many of whom voiced strong opposition to the plan directly to the Council’s Transport Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson.
Despite the turnout and significance of the discussion, no formal minutes were taken, a decision campaigners say further undermines transparency and public confidence in the veracity of the Council’s commitment to meaningful democratic engagement.
Adding to concerns, the Council instructed a new street survey in June this year to inform the Sub-Committee’s forthcoming decision. This was despite traffic levels being unusually high, due to major roadworks which are scheduled to continue into October. The objectors argue that the resulting traffic and parking disruption renders the data entirely unrepresentative.
Local resident Jane Grant, who is owner of the Velvet Easel Gallery and Chair of the Portobello Traders Association, said: “The surveys were conducted during major roadworks and the height of the tourist season, when Portobello’s popularity as a seaside destination creates unusual, short-term parking pressure. Basing permanent changes on data gathered in such distorted conditions is not only methodologically flawed, it’s legally questionable.”
The community group also criticises the Council for ignoring existing alternatives already in place. Since January 2024, citywide enforcement of pavement parking, double parking, and obstruction at dropped kerbs has been in effect.
In addition, double-yellow lines have been introduced at known pinch points such as Marlborough Street and Regent Street. These measures, they argue, directly address any concerns raised during consultation without resorting to the sweeping restrictions of a CPZ.
Local businesses have voiced particularly strong opposition. Karen Mackay, the owner of Cahoots, an independent store supporting local designers and artisan makers, said: “This scheme is a direct threat to local businesses, it will kill footfall, disrupt deliveries, and drive our customers elsewhere.
“We’ve worked hard to bring life back to the High Street with independent shops, cafés, and services, and now the Council wants to sabotage that progress.
“If these businesses start closing down, it’s not just livelihoods that are at stake – it’s access to essential amenities for local people. We’ve seen the damage these schemes have done in places like Leith. Why is the Council determined to repeat the same mistakes here?”
Legal arguments underpin much of the group’s letter, which sets out a clear intention to seek judicial review if the Council fails to reconsider. They argue the scheme fails the Wednesbury test of reasonableness and cite legal precedents from England, where courts have overturned traffic schemes due to poor consultation and misuse of evidence.
The letter concludes with a list of demands, including an immediate halt to the CPZ proposal, a rejection of the flawed consultation and survey data, and a fresh, legally compliant consultation process that includes all affected areas. The group also calls for full disclosure of the financial, legal, and traffic modelling used to justify the plan.
Jane Grant added: “We are not opposed to reasonable parking controls, but this plan has been pushed through with disregard for local voices, credible evidence, or economic impact. If the Council refuses to listen, we are fully prepared to take them to court.
“Portobello has a strong sense of community, with many examples of residents and businesses coming together to fundraise for causes that matter to them. If the Council believes we lack the means or resolve to pursue legal action against blanket measures that will harm our businesses, livelihoods, and make local people poorer, they should think again.”
If the Council fails to respond within 21 days, the group has indicated it will initiate legal proceedings in the Court of Session, seeking to have the Traffic Regulation Order quashed and to recover legal expenses.
A petition opposing the CPZ has already attracted over 1,300 signatures:
The first Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Ali Bowden has been selected to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2025.
The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh. Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the Civic Awards Committee. Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople.
Ali Bowden became Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature in 2006, following a ten-year career in publishing, and was in the role for most of its 20-year history. Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and in the following years Ali helped to welcome new Cities of Literature as they joined, recruiting others from around the world in a bid to diversify the network.
There are now 53 literary cities and more than 350 creative cities in seven artforms.
Ali will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost and have her handprints set in stone at the City Chambers later this year.
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Civic Award Committee, Robert Aldridge said: “Ali Bowden is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I’m really pleased that she has accepted the Civic Awards Committee decision to present it to her.
“Edinburgh blazed a trail when it became the first UNESCO Creative City in 2004 and with Ali at the helm for almost 20 years it has continued to flourish in this position.
“Not only has Ali gone above and beyond to create a diverse and engaging range of projects and programmes to enhance the literary city, she has played a key role in connecting Edinburgh with other literary cities around the world.
“I’d like to congratulate Ali on behalf of the city – we will all benefit from her legacy, which builds on the Capital’s rich literary heritage while also bringing reading and literature to new and varied audiences.”
Ali’s work to promote and enhance Edinburgh as a literary city includes community-based writers’ residencies, the first citywide reading campaign, and the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott. She was also behind the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh’s publishing heritage, and an initiative with ETAG to promote literary tourism.
Ali has played a key role in making introductions, bringing opportunities and showcasing the work of writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, programmers and visitors to the benefit of Edinburgh’s literary scene.
After 18 years as Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Ali stood down from the role in September 2024.
Ali Bowden said: “There’s no doubt that Edinburgh has stolen my heart, and I’ve happily spent the last few decades banging the drum for this impressive, bookish, story-filled and ever-changing city.
“I am humbled, honoured and delighted – in equal measure – to be receiving the Edinburgh Award. I know it’s only possible because of all the kind souls I’ve worked with over the years, on projects big and small, locally and internationally.
“All of them equally inspired by Edinburgh, this amazing, and first, City of Literature. Thank you all for doing a bit of hard work when I asked!
With the summer festivals season fast approaching, the city council is making temporary changes to the way some of our city centre streets operate between Thursday 24 July and Sunday 7 September 2025.
During this busy period the population of our city effectively doubles, which brings challenges for residents, businesses and visitors.
These temporary changes, which include removing or restricting vehicle traffic, are designed to make our streets easier and safer to walk around.
There is also specific advice for blue badge holders, home deliveries, loading and services for businesses, places of worship and special arrangements.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “As we prepare to welcome the world to Edinburgh for our summer festivals, we’re making sure that these higher visitor numbers are managed safely and properly.
“We’ve made temporary changes to our city centre streets successfully during this period for many years and I’m sure that this summer will be no different.
“I’d like to thank our residents and businesses for their understanding and patience as we get ready to showcase and enjoy our city’s unparalleled cultural offering once again.”
NorthEdinburgh-based social enterprise Scran Academy has announced the official opening of its exciting new youth empowerment café at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) – the New Sick Kids.
Scran Academy is an Edinburgh youth work social enterprise on a mission to help young people realise their full potential in learning, work and life. Set within the Edinburgh children’s hospital, the new Scran Café is a key milestone in its drive to open doors for young people in the region.
Building on four successful years running a popular café at NHS Lothian’s Comely Bank site, Scran Academy’s new café at RHCYP will provide employment and support for dozens of young people across Lothian, giving them opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop valuable skills, and grow in confidence within a supportive work environment.
Initially employing six young people, the site will also provide a platform for hundreds of work placements and paid jobs.
The RHCYP offers world-class healthcare facilities for children and adults both locally and nationally with 600,000 staff, patients and visitors coming through its doors every year.
The bright youth-led space at Scran Café has been thoughtfully designed to offer a calm and comforting environment for both patients and their families navigating a hospital stay as well as staff taking a break from a busy shift.
Commenting on the opening, Will Bain, CEO of Scran Academy said:“Getting the keys to our Scran Café at the RHCYP is such huge step for us! We’ve got big plans to make this a brilliant, buzzing youth-led hub that brings young people’s voices and choices to life.
“Over the next 3 years our café at the RHCYP will provide work and training for over two hundred young staff and volunteers. Every one of these young people will access the opportunities, relationships and experiences needed to help them build their own futures.
“We’ve demonstrated our model through our partnership with NHS Lothian in the Comely Bank Centre, where we see dozens of young people step out of their café experiences proud, capable and ready for what’s next. Now we are ready to step it up a gear – and we are so excited to be doing it at the RHCYP, one of the most important places in our city.”
Aris Tyrothoulakis, Service Director for Women’s and Children’s at NHS Lothian said: ”We are thrilled to be welcoming Scran Café to RHCYP this summer. For our hard-working teams, patients and families alike, the new café will offer a bright and welcoming space to take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the hospital.
“NHS Lothian is proud to be an Anchor Institution. Our mission to deliver world class health and social care is complemented by our desire to make our buildings and service delivery work in ways that support community wealth building and stable, secure employment.
“Building on our partnership with Scran Academy’s successful café at our Comely Bank site, we look forward to working together to increase access to fair work opportunities for young people in the region.”
Councillor Jane Meagher said“What makes Scran and this cafe unique, is that they really live the principle that every young person has the potential, and the power, to thrive when given the right support. The young staff team here today are shaping their own futures.
“This is exactly the kind of innovative model we want to champion in Edinburgh, where employability goes hand-in-hand with wellbeing, and where young people are supported not just to work, but to feel happy, valued and confident while doing so.
“I am especially proud to know that Scran is fully integrated into the Council’s Accredited Pathways Framework for Schools, which means they are a key delivery partner in offering meaningful learning routes that equips young people right across Edinburgh with real-life experience, accredited training, and a strong sense of purpose.”
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