A message from James Dalgleish, convenor Education, Children and Families and Amanda Hatton, Corporate Director Children, Education and Justice Services was issued yesterday:
Schools in Edinburgh, as well as throughout the UK, were targeted yesterday (Monday) in a hoax threat.
We took immediate action to ensure the safety of our pupils, teachers and staff and followed the advice of Police Scotland as well as our own established safety policies.
The police conducted a thorough investigation into the claims and determined it was a hoax and there was no risk identified.
The safety of our school community is always our top priority. With Police assurance all Council nurseries, primaries and high schools reopened today, Tuesday 20 October.
This situation has caused alarm and misinformation to be spread amongst the school community. Understandably as a result attendance rates have been lower than average today.
We want to reassure parents, carers, pupils and staff that safety is a priority and there is no safety risk for pupils.
If you have any concerns, please speak to your child’s school. Staff can support pupils in their return to learning.
The Tour de France Grand Départ Trophy visited Portobello yesterday to celebrate the first ever time the race will start in Scotland.
The Tour de France will begin at Edinburgh Castle in July 2027, and ahead of the history-making departure the trophy was brought to Portobello promenade to recognise the work to encourage cycling within Portobello High School.
The school has done incredible work to encourage cycling within it’s community, including the launch of Girls Gone Cycling – a scheme to inspire female pupils to take up cycling.
Ten pupils from the Girl Gone Cycling team are heading to Paris this week to speak at the British Embassy on how they grew the initiative from an idea in June 2026, to within six months, including over 70 pupils and now being replicated in schools across Edinburgh and the East of Scotland.
Council leader Jane Meagher said: “I am really excited and proud to be welcoming the Tour de France trophy to Portobello High School before the tour comes to Edinburgh next summer.
“The Girls Gone Cycling initiative has been incredibly successful in encouraging girls to the sport and, in just a few months, is now being replicated at schools across the East of Scotland.
“The school has been instrumental in encouraging cycling within Portobello and Craigmillar and removing barriers to ensure biking is accessible to all.
“The Tour de France coming to Edinburgh for the first time is very exciting. We are investing £1.7million – money that has been generated from the Visitor Levy – to improve roads for the event and it’s set to bring in millions of pounds for the local economy.
““This will be another event that puts Edinburgh on the worldwide stage and I cannot wait to see the yellow jersey set off with the world famous Edinburgh Castle in the background.”
Headteacher at Portobello High School Greg McDowall said: “Our Pedal Power Porty has been a great success and encouraged so many children to use their bikes. We have a library of bikes for pupils to use so that cycling has no barriers and the older pupils teach basic bike skills and maintenance to the younger children.
“Having the Tour de France trophy come to Portobello is incredible and can only encourage more kids to take up cycling. I know a lot of our pupils are counting the days until the Grand Départ set off from their home city.”
Shocking new analysis carried out by Living Rent and Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council on data obtained by Edinburgh Green Councillor Chas Booth reveals that only three in ten licensed Short Term Lets in the capital have planning permission.
Meanwhile a quarter have withdrawn a planning application and just under a quarter have not even applied for planning consent at all.
The analysis covers secondary lets only – in other words letting an entire property that is not someone’s home, and does not include people letting out a room in their own home. The research was released more than four years after the introduction of Edinburgh’s Short Term Let control area, in September 2022, which declared that a Short Term Let in the city was “a material change of use requiring planning permission”.
The analysis was based on comparing the publicly available register of short term let licences with data on every short term let planning application made in the city since 2018, obtained by Cllr Chas Booth.
This analysis shows that:
1,225 (69.84%) of Edinburgh’s 1,754 licensed Short Term Lets do not have planning permission (secondary letting)
465 (26.51%) licensed Short Term Lets have applied for planning permission and then withdrawn the application before it was determined (secondary letting)
425 (24.23%) licensed Short Term Lets have never applied for planning permission (secondary letting)
Commenting on the analysis, Cllr Chas Booth, who obtained the data, said: “Edinburgh’s short term let control area was meant to ensure every STL in the city had planning permission. Yet four years on from its introduction, it clearly isn’t working. Residents living next to unregulated lets have to put up with the disruption that brings, and every STL is one fewer home in a city with a housing emergency.”
“This analysis shows two things. First, the Council isn’t doing enough to enforce the planning and licensing system, and that must improve. But more importantly, it shows the Scottish Government’s legislation is not fit for purpose. There is a loophole as big as a barn door that hundreds of STL owners are exploiting, and residents are paying the price.
“Ministers need to wake up and smell the coffee and act urgently to close it.”
Booth added: “I’m very grateful to Living Rent and Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council for carrying out this detailed analysis. If community volunteers can establish the scale of the problem, the Scottish Government has no excuse for not acknowledging it and fixing it.”
Jon ‘Geo’ Camp from Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council, who undertook the analysis, said: “Our community council has heard from many residents concerned about short term lets, and this analysis shows why.
“A significant number of licensed lets have no planning permission, and many of them applied for it and then withdrew before a decision was made.
“Residents need to know the system that regulates these lets is working properly, and too often they don’t believe that it is.
“We will keep listening to our community, and keep working with councillors and MSPs to make sure these issues are heard and resolved.”
Ian Murray and Daniel Johnson call for more power and funding
Ian Murray and Daniel Johnson, the MP for Edinburgh South and MSP for Edinburgh Southern, have called for increased power and funding for Edinburgh, as new analysis shows the city has been short-changed by £147 million since 2014.
New analysis from the House of Commons Library found that if local government funding in Scotland had kept pace with the Scottish block grant, Scottish Councils would be £2bn better off.
Scottish Labour is arguing for more power and funding to be pushed out of Holyrood and into local communities.
Commenting, Ian Murray said:“Edinburgh is Scotland’s worst-funded local authority, receiving less funding per resident than every other council in the country. Everyone knows a road with a pothole that needs fixed, a school that needs more support for children with additional support needs, or a high street that needs local investment.
“Instead of empowering local communities and opening up politics and decision making to communities here, the SNP has chosen to hoard power and money in Holyrood and deprive areas of funding which would have made a real difference to the lives of local people.”
Daniel Johnson MSP said:“Too much money and control is centralised in Scotland, we need to reverse that and push funding and powers out of Holyrood and into local communities.”
Chancellor announces Edinburgh as host city for 2027 G20 finance meeting
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from across the world will gather at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from 8 to 9 July 2027
The UK will host the twenty-second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Edinburgh next year. The gathering will take place on 8 and 9 July 2027 and will be a core feature of the UK’s programme of events across its Presidency year.
Speaking at the IMF in Bangkok today, Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey expressed pride at the prospect of hosting counterparts in Scotland’s capital.
The work of the G20 and our relationship with G20 partners has real impact in the UK. In recent years G20 members have brought thousands of investment projects into the UK, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs.
The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). This is the second time the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors G20 meeting has been held in Scotland. In 2009, the group met in St Andrews where they coordinated responses to the 2008 financial crisis to drive economic recovery.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit will take place in Manchester on 27 and 28 November 2027. As well as this event, and the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Edinburgh, a range of locations across the UK will host further high profile ministerial meetings.
The UK Government is determined to ensure the Summit and the year-long Presidency will benefit people in every part of the UK – bringing the G20 to nations and regions across the UK.
The Prime Minister set out his intention to put AI at the heart of the UK’s G20 Presidency at UNGA last month. He detailed how the UK will bring the right people together on the key issues: delivering on the potential of AI for good and dealing with the risks to ensure that AI development is safe.
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey commented:“As the UK’s second financial centre, Edinburgh is a fitting host for the G20 finance meeting.
“Alongside the Leader’s summit in Manchester, and other meetings around the nations and regions, the G20 is a real opportunity for the whole of the UK.”
Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander commented:“The UK’s presidency of the G20 is a huge opportunity for the whole of the country.
“Bringing the world’s finance ministers to Edinburgh recognises our capital’s reputation as a global financial centre.
“This is a significant moment for Edinburgh and the whole of Scotland – the event showcases Scottish innovation and ambition to a global audience.”
EICC board chair, Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron, said: “I am delighted the Edinburgh International Conference Centre is again hosting world leaders and economic decision makers.
“To do so is a privilege and a responsibility. It also boosts Edinburgh’s offering as a business events city and shows confidence in the EICC’s facilities and track record of delivering international political and financial gatherings to world class standards.
“Our excellent EICC team, led by CEO Amanda Wrathall, will work closely with partners to ensure all aspects of this G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors business meeting is executed with the necessary care, precision and expertise for which the EICC is warmly and widely respected and renowned.”
Preparations are already underway, with EICC working closely with international, national and local partners to ensure world-class facilities, technology, delegate services and security arrangements are in place ahead of the meeting.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’re pleased to have been chosen to host the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Edinburgh next Summer and look forward to welcoming the world’s most prominent financial decision makers to our capital city.
“Edinburgh has long earned its global status as a major centre for financial services, with our history in the sector spanning over three centuries. We’re proud to be the UK’s second largest financial centre outside of London and of our longstanding reputation, expertise and innovation in the finance sector.
“With a strong track record of delivering events on the world’s stage, we look forward to having all eyes on us next year – and working with partners at both a Government and local level to showcase the very best of what Edinburgh has to offer.”
Hosting the G20 finance meeting will be a significant operation and Edinburgh has experience hosting major events such as sporting fixtures, the arts festival, national and international conferences.
The G20 brings together 19 of the world’s largest economies and the European Union and the African Union.
Together, it makes up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population and is the main international forum for coordinating the world’s largest economies.
A new trial to assess whether bus journey times and reliability can be improved by extending bus lane hours launches on Monday, 12 October.
The trial will be in force between Milton Road East and London Road, where bus lane times will be extended to operate between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. Current bus lane times are peak only – 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The changes will test whether longer bus lane hours can help reduce delays for buses along the route, in turn encouraging and supporting people to choose to travel by public transport and improving the experience for those who rely on buses.
Reliable and efficient bus services:
are essential for getting around the city
encourage more people to choose public transport over the car
provide a vital transport option for many residents who do not have access to a private vehicle
Edinburgh has a great bus service, but more can be done to reduce delays to buses along key routes. Bus lanes that support buses to get ahead of traffic for as long as possible during the day are one way to achieve this.
The trial route is used by several services including the number 44, which Lothian Buses has identified as one of the services most affected by delays and reliability issues outside of current bus lane operating hours. Initial data analysis shows that bus journey times on part of the route have increased by 22% since 2019.
Data and stakeholder feedback collected during the trial will be used to help decide whether the measures should be made permanent.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Edinburgh is lucky to have a first-rate public transport system, which hundreds of thousands of people rely on every day. We want to make travel by bus an attractive, accessible and reliable alternative to the car and bus lanes support that.
“However, travel behaviour is changing and bus demand is increasing, leading to delays outside of traditional peak periods. This trial will help us to assess whether extended bus lane hours can reduce journey times on one of our busiest routes.
“Thanks to the nature of the trial we’ll be able to carry out real-world monitoring of traffic impacts and network performance, alongside feedback from the public.”
The 18-month trial will be introduced through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which provides an opportunity to monitor the effects of the changes and gather evidence before recommendations are made on the longer-term arrangements.
Monitoring analysis will include bus journey times, traffic surveys, parking and loading surveys, business surveys and feedback from residents and other stakeholders. The first six months of the trial also serves as a consultation period.
During the trial some parking and loading restriction times will change.
People are encouraged to check signs and road markings and can find out more about the trial on the Council website.
‘WE’LL TRANSFORM THIS FORMAL INDUSTRIAL SITE INTO A NEW COASTAL TOWN AND COMMUNITY’ – COUNCIL LEADER JANE MEAGHER
First Minister John Swinney has marked the start of construction on one of Scotland’s largest net zero housing developments as part of the latest chapter of Granton Waterfront regeneration,
The development will provide 847 net zero homes, including 387 affordable homes, 14 commercial units and a new primary school on former industrial land.
It is part of a wider £1.3 billion transformation of Edinburgh’s waterfront that will create 3,500 homes, new leisure facilities and Scotland’s largest coastal park.
The First Minister joined local school pupils at the site, including young people who have benefited from construction courses supported through Scottish Government investment in Granton’s regeneration.
John Swinney said: “This is one of the largest regeneration projects Scotland has seen in decades and a major vote of confidence in Edinburgh’s future.
“For years, people have looked across this waterfront and seen disused industrial land. Today, we are laying the foundations for a new community that will be home to thousands of people.
“Through our investment, hundreds of families will have affordable, energy-efficient homes as we transform Edinburgh’s waterfront into a thriving neighbourhood with new homes, schools and businesses.
“We are putting the people of Granton at the heart of this transformation, with better transport links, new green spaces, apprenticeships, skills training and investment in local organisations.”
Jane Meagher, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a big step forward for Granton and the whole city, as construction begins on the first phase of one of the largest public sector led regeneration projects of its time.
“Through our joint efforts we’ll transform this former industrial site into a new coastal town and community. It’s important that those living in neighbouring communities benefit from the investment we’re making in the area.
“Our Place Accelerator approach will ensure residents see the benefits, including more green spaces to enjoy and opportunities for local young people to gain hands on construction skills and qualifications through work on site.”
Telford College
Audrey Cumberford, Principal of Edinburgh College, which works with Cruden Homes to deliver Granton Waterfront Construction Pathway courses for school and college pupils, said: “Edinburgh College has been at the heart of the Granton community for many years and we’re delighted to be involved in the next stage of its regeneration.
“Not only will this project provide hundreds of new homes in the area, this is already providing hundreds of opportunities for students to get hands-on experience in the construction industry.
“These opportunities could be transformative for our learners – allowing them to gain vital skills and develop a career in the sector.”
Edinburgh Green Councillors and Edinburgh Liberal Democrat councillors are jointly hosting a screening and discussion of the National Emergency Briefing. The event, in Edinburgh City Chambers, is tomorrow – Wednesday 7th October – and all 63 Edinburgh councillors have been invited to attend.
The screening and discussion, facilitated by Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network (ECCAN) shows a 40-minute film on the climate and nature emergencies, presented by ecologist Chris Packham, followed by a facilitated discussion on the issues raised.
Speaking ahead of the screening, Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Ed Thornley, one of the hosts of the event, said: “The Climate Emergency is having very real impact in Edinburgh – flooding and extreme rainfall are serious and growing concerns in my own part of the city.
“So, I’m delighted to be working cross-party to host this important screening and discussion so that councillors from all parties can come together and discuss what that means for our city and how we can move forward together.”
Co-host Councillor Ben Parker, Edinburgh Greens co-convenor, said: “The climate and nature emergencies are the most important issues of our time.
“We know that the impacts are already being felt across the world, and here in Edinburgh. It is so important that all elected members are knowledgeable about how climate change will impact on our lives and what we need to do differently to keep people safe and ensure we have a planet to pass on to future generations.
“I hope that we see a good turnout from councillors for this important screening.”
Mark Dowey, Hub Manager at the Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network (ECCAN) said: “In Edinburgh, communities are leading the way in responding to the climate and nature crisis.
“This briefing gives councillors from across the political spectrum a unique opportunity to come together, reflect on the challenges we face, and discuss what they mean for Edinburgh.
“ECCAN is pleased to support that conversation and help strengthen the connection between decision-making in the city and the community action already happening on the ground.”
