city council – Page 4 – The NEN

New Liberton High School opens

‘Our aim is simple: to put local people at the heart of this campus’

Cutting-edge building replaces existing Liberton High School as part of new community, lifelong learning and sports campus

Staff and pupils at Liberton High School have started the new school year in their brand new state-of-the-art learning and community campus this week, after the building was handed over to the Council.

Balfour Beatty was appointed by the Council to deliver the new building, which has been designed by jmarchitects. The new campus has been formed with the needs of learners in mind. To encourage collaborative learning, the school building features breakout and retreat spaces to offer pupils choice on where they want to work, socialise or take time out.

Large windows fill the building with natural light, while helping to connect departments and classrooms with outdoor spaces. Internal spaces have been decorated with warm colours and light woods to create comfortable spaces for learning and coming together.

Outdoor sports facilities include a new 3G synthetic rugby and football pitch and a multi-use games area. A new grass recreation area that can be lined for football or other sports activities will be added following the demolition of the former Liberton High School building.

The 1,200-space school forms the centrepiece of the new Liberton Community Campus, a multi-purpose facility to help meet the needs of young people, their families and the wider community.

Its spaces have been designed to allow all generations to come together in a number of ways, including a community café, library, GP surgery and workspaces for Council partners. New sports facilities operated by Edinburgh Leisure will feature bookable amenities for the whole community, including a fitness suite and dance studio.

Information on when the other community facilities within the building will be ready for use will be published soon.

The new Community Campus has been built to Passivhaus standard, minimising energy consumption and reducing the reliance on active heating or cooling systems, ensuring sustainable and eco-friendly construction.

In addition to the Passivhaus design, the new school contains other sustainable features supporting the Council to meet its sustainability commitments. This includes measures to improve the air quality and thermal performance of the building which are vital to achieving Passivhaus certification.

The new school building has been designed in line with the guiding principles of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Strategy and is one of the projects in the second phase of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme, alongside the project to redevelop Wester Hailes High School.

Children, Education and Families Convener, Councillor James Dalgleish, said: “The opening of the new Liberton High School marks a major milestone for pupils, staff and the wider community.

“This building has been designed to be futureproof with sustainability at its core, and I’m proud that it stands as one of Scotland’s first Passivhaus secondary schools.

“The school’s leadership team has played a crucial role in shaping a learning environment that puts the needs of young people first, while also meeting our commitments to a net‑zero future.

“This project is however about more than just a school. It’s the foundation of a community lifelong‑learning and sports hub that will bring together education, public services and local amenities in one accessible place, from a Community Library to an NHS GP Surgery. This reflects our ‘Living Well Locally’ strategy, ensuring local services are co‑located where people need them most.

“Our aim is simple: to put local people at the heart of this campus, giving everyone the opportunity to learn, participate and thrive.

“I’m delighted that this exceptional new building will help to bring more local people in the community together, and we’re looking forward to announcing more about the new community facilities soon.”

Stuart Danskin, Project Director at Balfour Beatty said: “As Balfour Beatty’s first Passivhaus secondary school and the centrepiece of the new Liberton Community Campus, the successful completion of Liberton High School demonstrates our expertise in delivering innovative and sustainable infrastructure that creates lasting value for communities.

Further information about the design of the new Liberton Community Campus can be found on the Future Schools Edinburgh website.

Princes Street summit outlines progress and next steps

Council Leader Jane Meagher has met with business representatives, heritage organisations, community groups and Councillors to provide an update on efforts to reopen Princes Street.

The meeting also discussed the Council’s wider response to the disruption.

Cllr Meagher hosted the summit in the City Chambers on Wednesday evening, at which council officers set out in detail the complexity of making the former Debenhams building safe to allow the thoroughfare to reopen.

Initial proposals for a communications campaign to promote those businesses and communities most affected by the disruption were also presented and discussed. This will also include resident and visitor spend incentives, events and other promotions.

This activity will be paid for from the Scottish Government funding announced last week and would continue beyond the reopening of Princes Street and into next year.

Key points from the on-site progress update:

Five weeks on from the fire, work on site continues to progress well. The focus continues to be on making the building safe – allowing Princes Street to reopen – while aiming to retain as many of its historic features as possible.
This is complex and challenging work which is carried out from cranes by a team of highly skilled engineers.
The eastern gable of the building has been secured and made safe. This involved reducing it in height by approximately two metres and supporting it with scaffolding.
The front façade of the building is now being stabilised with steel beams – more than 40% of these are now in place internally and externally to support the western end of the Princes Street façade – with work ongoing on the remainder of the upper floors.
Several tonnes of bricks and unsafe stonework – some weighing as much as 850kg – from the upper levels of the façade have been carefully removed and carefully stored on site for reuse.
Debris and dangerous materials continue to be removed from inside the building – with several tonnes already removed.
Subject to favourable weather conditions (this restricts when this can be done safely) the hope is that work carried out will allow Princes Street to reopen by the end of August.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’ve been working tirelessly to make sure Princes Street can fully reopen and I’m reassured by the progress being made. It goes without saying that we want to do this as soon as possible – but only when it is safe to do so.

“I want to reiterate just how complicated, hazardous and challenging this work is – and it was helpful to be able to share more of this detail during, what was, a very positive and constructive meeting with local business and community representatives last night.

“I was extremely grateful to all those who attended and gave us their feedback – which I committed to taking on board, either immediately or as part of our lessons learned exercise that will follow. I also welcomed the views of Edinburgh World Heritage and the Scottish Architectural Society who spoke in praise of the steps we’re taking to preserve an important part of our city’s heritage.

“Clearly, the resulting disruption continues to have a significant effect on businesses, particularly on the north end of the tram route, and last night we outlined our plans for a communications campaign to promote Leith, the Shore and Newhaven – and everything all they have to offer for our residents and visitors.

“This is being developed very much in partnership with the businesses and communities themselves – and we hope it will encourage people to visit businesses in the area well into the future.

“What also came across strongly last night was the effect this is having on our residents who are struggling to get to work, meet commitments or make appointments. I want to put on record again my thanks for your patience and understanding and to reiterate my determination to bring this disruption to an end as soon as it is safe to do so.

“In the meantime, I want to give special thanks to Lothian Buses, particularly their drivers, for their support in keeping the city moving.”

The latest updates and information, including a Q&A and image gallery, are available on the Council’s dedicated webpages.

Crewe Toll Roundabout resurfacing to start on Monday

TRAFFIC DISRUPTION LIKELY FOR TWELVE WEEKS

MAJOR WORKS TO CREWE TOLL ROUNDABOUT

Local Lib Dem councillors report: We’ve been alerted to major works to resurface the Crewe Toll roundabout and upgrade the pedestrian crossings.

The project will start on Monday 17th August and last for approximately 12 weeks.

The works will be completed via overnight shifts (between 7.30pm and 6.30am) but will require temporary closures of Crewe Road South, Crewe Road North, or the Ferry Road West approach.

Only one of these approaches will be closed at any one time.

Phase 1 will start with the closure of Crewe Road South at its junction with the Crewe Toll Roundabout. During these temporary road closures, traffic on the remaining four approaches will be managed via temporary traffic lights.

A signed diversion route will be in place for each of the closed approaches.

‘Privatisation of Social Care has failed Edinburgh’

END THE “MARKETISED FAILURE” OF SOCIAL CARE WITH A PUBLICLY OWNED NATIONAL CARE SERVICE, DEMAND COMMUNISTS

THE Communist Party of Britain (CPB) has spoken out on social care policy in its campaign for the upcoming City of Edinburgh Council by-elections, taking aim at the “marketised failure” of privatised care services.

Standing candidates Richard Shillcock (Southside/Newington ward) and Peter Olech (Portobello/Craigmillar ward), the party is offering a distinct socialist alternative to the mainstream parties ahead of the vote on Thursday, 3 September 2026.

The Communists argue that Edinburgh’s current social care landscape—deeply reliant on private contractors and plagued by low wages—is failing both the vulnerable and the workforce.

The party is campaigning for a structural overhaul that mirrors the founding principles of the National Health Service (NHS): care that is fully nationalised, universally accessible, and free at the point of use.

A Local Blueprint for a National Care Service

The Communist campaign in Edinburgh centres on three localised demands designed to reverse decades of council privatisation and outsourcing:

Insourcing Care Services: Bringing outsourced adult social care contracts back under NHS and local authority management, creating a pathway toward a unified National Care Service.

Ending Low Pay and supporting Union Bargaining for Care Workers: Ending the exploitation of a predominantly female and ethnic minority workforce by establishing standardised council contracts. These will guarantee decent wages, fully compensated travel time, paid sleep-ins, and robust sectoral collective bargaining.

Funding People Not War: Rejecting regressive local taxes or service cuts. The party calls for the expansion of municipal budgets by taxing the city’s vast private corporate wealth and shifting resources away from international military spending toward vital local services.

Peter Olech, Communist Party candidate for Portobello/Craigmillar, said: “Edinburgh is a city of immense, concentrated wealth, yet our social care infrastructure is crumbling and working-class communities are paying the price.

“Turning care into a profit-driven market has driven down wages for care workers and diminished the quality of life for those needing support.

“We are standing to ensure care is treated as a fundamental human right, managed for the many rather than corporate shareholders.”

Richard Shillcock, Communist Party candidate for Southside/Newington, said: “The choice facing Edinburgh voters on 3 September is simple: welfare or warfare.

“While mainstream parties manage austerity and watch our social care system fracture, we demand that Edinburgh Council takes direct responsibility for our local public services.

“We could fully fund a dignified, publicly owned care system and reverse years of devastating budget cuts if we prioritised investing in people.”

The local by-elections were triggered following the resignation of two local SNP councillors who were recently elected as MSPs to Holyrood.

The Communist Party urges voters across Southside/Newington and Portobello/Craigmillar to use their ballot papers to reject performative political tinkering and demand real, socialist structural change for Edinburgh’s working class.

Edinburgh community groups invited to join the 2026 People’s Procession

Community groups and organisations from across the city are being invited to register by Saturday 15 August to take part in the 2026 Edinburgh People’s Procession.

The People’s Procession takes place on Sunday 13 September 2026 and forms part of the spectacular Edinburgh Riding of the Marches, an annual event celebrating Edinburgh’s heritage while showcasing the city’s vibrant communities, culture and future. The procession gives local organisations the opportunity to raise awareness of their work and celebrate their contribution to life in the capital.

Organised by Edinburgh March Riding Association, with support from the City of Edinburgh Council, the procession will bring together more than 600 participants representing groups and organisations from across the city.

Participants will travel from Holyrood, near the Scottish Parliament and Palace of Holyroodhouse, along the Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral ahead of the arrival of the Riding of the Marches cavalcade later that afternoon.

The Riding of the Marches will once again be joined by the Lord Provost Rt Hon Cllr Robert Aldridge, alongside the Edinburgh Captain and Lass, who will lead the cavalcade of 280 horses and riders up the Royal Mile watched by an audience of thousands.

City of Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “I’m delighted to see the return of the People’s Procession for 2026. The enthusiastic response to last year’s inaugural procession demonstrated the pride, diversity and community spirit that make Edinburgh such a special city.

“The procession is a fantastic opportunity for local groups and organisations to come together to celebrate the invaluable work they do and be part of one of Edinburgh’s most unique and historic events.

“I look forward to seeing even more community groups represented this year as the People’s procession continues to grow and become an established part of Edinburgh’s Riding of the Marches.”

Further information on the event including expected timings and the registration form is available via the events Eventbrite page.

Communist candidates make Gaza City twinning central to Edinburgh by-election campaigns

Richard Shillcock and Peter Olech are launching a campaign featuring Palestinian flag leaflets to challenge UK complicity in the Gaza genocide and the involvement of local arms manufacturers.

Richard Shillcock, the Communist Party of Britain candidate for the Southside/Newington council by-election, has declared that the formal twinning of Edinburgh with Gaza City will be a key issue in the party’s campaign.

Speaking ahead of the 3 September 2026 council by-elections, Shillcock condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis, uniting with fellow Communist candidate Peter Olech (standing in Portobello/Craigmillar ward) to call on all candidates to join a cross-party pledge supporting this international friendship move.

The Communist Party campaign features a unique election leaflet that folds out into the Palestinian flag for window display.

“As a father myself, it breaks my heart to have been protesting against the genocide in Gaza for nearly three years and to have been unable to prevent the murder of some 20,000 children there by the US-backed Israeli state, and the damaging and wounding of untold more children,” said Shillcock.

“I don’t need to describe this further—we’ve seen it on our screens every day.”

The move deliberately revives a contentious local political debate. In 2022, a citizen-led petition and a subsequent motion brought by Green councillors to explore twinning options were rejected by the City of Edinburgh Council following legal objections and administrative delays.

Richard Shillcock and Peter Olech are asking voters to use these elections to overturn that precedent.

In a joint statement, the candidates said: “We welcome other candidates and parties joining the pledge to pursue the twinning issue, whether or not elected to the council. Let’s see a majority of voters choosing candidates who support twinning Edinburgh with Gaza City.”

Richard Shillcock made three points linking Palestine directly to the Scottish capital:

Universal Humanity: The crisis is the defining moral issue of our generation.
State Complicity: The UK government continues to provide extensive military, economic, diplomatic, logistical, and intelligence support to the Israeli state.
Local Financial and Military Links: Corporate entities operating within Edinburgh connect the city directly to the Israeli state and military apparatus: the Leonardo UK arms company and Barclays Bank, a primary trader in Israeli government bonds.

The Communist Party of Britain is urging Southside/Newington and Portobello/Craigmillar voters to send a clear message against domestic complicity in overseas conflicts.

Police Scotland: Early success for City Centre Policing Unit

49 ARRESTS IN FIRST MONTH OF OPERATION

Almost 50 people have been arrested by officers from our new City Centre Policing Unit during their first month of operations.

From 1 to 31 July, a total of 49 individuals were arrested and 114 charges brought against them for a range of offences within the city centre during proactive patrols and reactive responses undertaken by the unit.

The CCPU officially launched on 2 July 2026, supported by funding from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Visitor Levy.

Over the last month over 2,300 hours of patrols by CCPU officers have taken place to engage with members of the public and businesses within the city-centre, respond to intelligence relating to criminal activity and provide a high-visibility presence to deter offending.

In addition to the arrests, two Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued for antisocial behaviour and a further 20 Recorded Police Warnings were handed out for incidents that did not require arrests to be made.

A total of 208 youth interactions were carried out to engage with young people visiting the city centre and build strong relationships with this demographic to help deter offences such as antisocial behaviour.

Extensive work has also been done to tackle street drinking in the Hunters Square area, with alcohol seized on 47 occasions.

Throughout August, CCPU officers will play a pivotal role in policing the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe to offer reassurance to the increased number of people within the city-centre and respond to any incidents that arise during this time.

Inspector Stephen Quinn, who leads the City Centre Policing Unit, said: “Our first month has been immensely challenging but extremely rewarding, as CCPU officers set about providing benefit to Edinburgh’s city centre.

“Extensive support from the CCPU was provided to staffing the cordons required to keep the public safe following the significant fire on Princes Street and this meant that resources that would previously have been required from other parts of the city were able to continue with their normal duties.

“Despite the demands of the fire, we have also been successful in tackling some of the key issues affecting the city-centre, including shop theft, antisocial behaviour and disorder.

“Working alongside key partners such as our colleagues at the Retail Crime Taskforce, Simon Community Scotland, Street Assist and representatives from the night-time economy, we continue to tackle hotspot areas and improve confidence in the policing response to ongoing problems.

“We’re under no illusion that more work needs to be done and we will continue to build on the success of our first month as we strive to make Edinburgh’s city-centre as safe as possible for all of those who live, work and visit the area.”

Edinburgh to celebrate 180 years of Scott Monument

PICTURE: Culture Edinburgh

One of Edinburgh’s most recognisable landmarks is celebrating a major milestone this summer, with visitors invited to join in the celebrations.

From 10 to 17 August, the Council is marking the anniversary with 12 free tickets available each day for visitors wishing to climb the famous monument. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Those who complete the climb of 221 steps will receive a special commemorative certificate to mark the occasion.

Completed in 1844 and opened in 1846, the Scott Monument was built in memory of Sir Walter Scott, one of Scotland’s best-loved writers and the author of Waverley and many other classic novels. Scott, who died in 1932, played a pivotal role in promoting Scotland’s history and culture through his writing.

Affectionately known by many as the “Gothic Rocket”, the monument is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic architecture. Designed by architect George Meikle Kemp following a competition in 1838, it is adorned with statues of writers, poets, and characters from Scott’s novels. Tragically, Kemp died before seeing his masterpiece completed, drowning in the Union Canal shortly before construction finished.

At its base sits John Steell’s statue of Sir Walter Scott alongside his faithful dog, Maida, overlooking Princes Street that remains at the heart of the city Scott helped to celebrate through his work.

Cllr Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “The Scott Monument is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks and a much-loved part of our city’s heritage.

“I’m delighted to be celebrating its 180^th anniversary by giving more people the chance to experience the monument, whether that’s climbing to enjoy its spectacular views or learning more about the life and legacy of Sir Walter Scott.

“We hope residents and visitors alike will join us in marking this special milestone.”

Find out more about the Scott Monument on the Culture Edinburgh website.

£5 million for Princes Street recovery

Deputy First Minister visits site and meets council leader

Up to £5 million will be made available to help support recovery from the fire on Edinburgh’s Princes Street.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth met with City of Edinburgh Council leader Jane Meagher yesterday following a tour of the site of the blaze at the former Debenhams store which broke out on 9 July.

The funding will be administered by the council and include support for a number of areas to assist the recovery from the fire, including support to incentivise and assist with travel around the city, acknowledging the concerns of businesses facing reduced footfall after the closure on Princes Street, in particular along the tram route to Leith and Newhaven.

It will also provide assistance to help secure the site and make the building safe to facilitate the reopening of Princes Street, as well as support for festival operators forced to relocate.

The Deputy First Minister has also confirmed that work is underway with Highland Council to finalise the financial support that the Scottish Government will provide for recovery from the Cairngorms fire.

Ms Gilruth said: “This fire has caused widespread difficulties in Edinburgh, not just in the city centre but extending north into Leith and Newhaven, as business and commuters adjust to the disruption caused by the fire.

“The Scottish Government has been determined from the start to ensure that we are ready to support the council in assisting those affected and the funding being set out today will help to keep the city moving and to adapt, while also enabling long term recovery.

“The impact in the capital has been significant at a time when the August festivals are getting underway. The Scottish Government is committed to working urgently with partners to ensure there is the fullest possible recovery, including the reopening of Princes Street as soon as is safely possible.”

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “This is a significant step in our city’s recovery from the Princes Street fire, and I wholeheartedly welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement today.

“Whilst I remain acutely aware of the impact that this is having across the city every day, I hope that this news can bring some comfort to our residents, businesses and visitors. The city is very much open, and I’d encourage everyone to support our fantastic local businesses as the festivals begin later this week.

“We’re continuing to do everything within our power to reopen Princes Street as soon as it’s safe to do so. The complexity of the remedial work cannot be understated, with specialists working, mostly by hand, under extremely challenging circumstances.

“I’d also urge people to continue to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

“I was encouraged by my conversations with the Deputy First Minister today and we’ll continue to work alongside the Scottish Government and our partners in our collective response to this incredibly difficult issue.”

The fund will be administered by the Council and divided into the following sections –

Building Works:

The Council is incurring substantial daily costs to progress work on the site, including making the building safe and the retention of heritage features, alongside associated security costs. This support will go towards covering these in the short to medium term.

Ultimately, the Council will still attempt to recover appropriate costs from the owners under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

Business Recovery: The Council recognises the impact that this has had on businesses across Edinburgh, particularly in Leith and the north of the city due to tram disruption. This funding will be used to encourage people to visit local businesses through a communications campaign, creating a local events fund and further incentivising patronage.

Festivals Support: The fire has resulted in some events by festival partners in the immediate vicinity being relocated at short notice. Bookings have also been impacted. Requests for funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Public Transport Support: Edinburgh Trams has experienced increased costs and a loss of income due to disruption on the network. As a large section of the tram network has been offline since the fire, this fund would be used specifically to help mitigate this ongoing impact on both Edinburgh Trams and the Council.

Princes Street City Dressing: Funding will support the installation of dressing at any vacant units or construction sites, including the former Debenham’s building, while works are ongoing, to maintain a positive image for Princes Street.

‘Getting Around Town’ Communications Campaign: Work has already commenced on a campaign to help residents and visitors get around the city.

Work is taking place to finalise arrangements for the support package which will be made available to the council.

Due to serious concerns about the structural integrity of the building a substantial exclusion zone was established and remains in place around the affected section of Princes Street.

For the latest advice and updates on Princes Street please visit the Council’s dedicated webpage.

Edinburgh learners receive exam results with improvement in almost all key measures

Levels of attainment for learners across the city have improved from last year across almost all key measures

There has been a significant improvement in the number of young people in S5 achieving three or more Higher qualifications at grade C or above and the proportion of S5 students achieving both three or more and five or more awards at SCQF Level 6 across Edinburgh.

The results also demonstrate improvement in almost all S4, S5 and S6 measures compared to 2019 (pre pandemic) and 2024 and 2025.

Over 11,226 candidates in Edinburgh received their results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) today (Tuesday 4 August) across 164 subjects.

A total of 59,459 awards were handed out for subjects including web design, carpentry, accounting, sport science and beauty.

National 5s saw passes (A-C grades) of 80.9%, a 0.9% increase on 2025 figures, and Highers saw passes of 78.5%, an increase of 1.9% on last year.

Education, Children and Families Convener, Councillor James Dalgleish said: It has been amazing to see attainment increase in almost all key measures for Edinburgh students.

“There is a huge range of qualifications and awards achieved by our learners in 165 subjects, representing the hard work, effort and commitment of learners, teachers and school staff. Each and every one of our young people’s journeys and achievements are unique to them and today’s results mark the next step in their journey, whether that’s to college, university, an apprenticeship or into the world of work.

“We want to provide inclusive and relevant curriculum pathways into further or higher education and to the workplace for every single learner in all of our schools. There is much to celebrate and be proud of in this year’s set of results and my thanks go to all those who have supported our learners to this point including school staff, parents and carers.”

Moustafa Watti (17), a former pupil at Broughton High School achieved three As in Advanced Highers in maths, biology and chemistry today. He is going to study medicine at the University of St Andrews next month.

He said: “I signed up for the results to be sent by text and knew they would be sent from 8am. I received my text results at 8.06am – that felt like a long six minutes!

“I was delighted to get three As, I didn’t think I would even get one A so I was shocked. I only needed two Bs to get into university so I am over the moon with my results and my parents are delighted.”

Bibi Coane (15) is going into S5 at Broughton High School. She got six Nat 5s at A and one Higher A in music today. She is part of the City of Edinburgh Music School, based at Broughton, allowing musically talented pupils to do their music exams early.

Bibi said: “I am really happy with my results, I expected As but there is always a little doubt.

“Next year I am doing Advanced Higher Music a year early as I am part of the music school, as well as four Highers. The music school is amazing, I get one on one lessons and it’s allowed my cello and piano to come on really quickly. I might study music at university, but I also love history and might study that.”

Lennon Watts (16) and Dan McCandless (16) are going into S5 at Broughton High School and are part of the Scottish FA Performance School based at the school. Lennon achieved six Nat 5s at A and B level and is going on to play full time with Celtic under 19s squad. He will come to school one day a week to study two Highers.

Lennon said: “I am really happy with my results, we do one less Nat 5 because we do seven periods of football a week. Next year will be tough to manage the football and my Highers but I want to get them so I can keep my options open. I plan to do another two Highers in S6, again coming in one day a week.

Dan got six Nat 5s at A and is going to play with Hearts under 17 squad next year while also doing school full time.

Dan said: I am happy with my results and I am going to do four Highers next year. It is difficult to juggle school and football, I’ll be at school every day then go straight to training and be there until about 8pm but I want to get my Highers so I have something if football doesn’t work out.

“The football school at Broughton has been great, it’s a lot of extra training, and they are flexible when you have games or extra training with your team.”