Balancing neighbourhood needs with tourism interests
Consultation on the details of a licensing scheme for short term lets will take place over seven weeks this summer.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has announced the publication of a draft licensing order for consultation, ahead of laying the final legislation at the Scottish Parliament in September.
Stakeholders will now have until 13 August to comment on the licensing order and the draft business and regulatory impact assessment.
Draft guidance documents have also been published to explain how the legislation would work in practice.
Ms Robison said: “Regulation of short term lets is vital if we are to balance the needs and concerns of our communities with wider economic and tourism interests.
“Short-term lets can offer people a flexible and cheaper travel option and have contributed positively to our tourism industry and local economies across the country.
“However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hot spots, high numbers of short-term lets can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in.
“By allowing local authorities appropriate regulatory powers through a licensing scheme, we can ensure that short term lets are safe and address issues faced by local residents and communities.
“It will allow local authorities to understand more fully what is happening in their areas and assist with the effective handling of complaints.”
Under the proposed legislation, local authorities will have until 1 October 2022 to establish a licensing scheme, with all short-term lets to be licensed by 1 April 2024. Existing hosts and operators must apply for a licence by 1 April 2023.
The Scottish Government previously withdrew the Licensing Order from the Scottish Parliament in February. This was to allow for draft guidance to be developed with input from the stakeholder working group.
Ms Robison added: “We want to get this legislation absolutely right. A stakeholder working group was established earlier this year to develop guidance on the licensing scheme that was clear, comprehensive and easy to understand.
“As part of this, the Scottish Government also set out to allay any unfounded concerns and actively explore solutions to any real issues, with a view to making any necessary adjustments to the Licensing Order.
“Stakeholder working group members have helpfully made a range of suggestions for adjustments to the Licensing Order, as well as providing very significant contributions to drafting the guidance.”
The consultation runs until Friday 13 August 2021.
The consultation paper on draft licensing legislation for short-term lets in Scotland and supporting documents can be found here: gov.scot/publications/short-term-lets/.
A consultation on new legislation on the sale and use of fireworks and tackling the misuse of pyrotechnics has been published.
The proposed Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill follows the report of an independent Fireworks Review Group which recommended tightening legislation to reduce the harm fireworks can cause.
The eight week consultation will seek views on the creation of a new offence of carrying a pyrotechnic device in a public place without reasonable excuse or lawful authority.
It is also seeking views from the public on the extension of police powers to allow a stop and search provision in relation to carrying pyrotechnics without a justifiable cause.
In addition a number of proposals will change how fireworks can be sold and used in Scotland.
These include the introduction of an offence to criminalise the supply of adult fireworks to people under the age of 18 – and the introduction of ‘no firework’ areas.
The proposed Bill is in addition to new regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament in February, which come into force at the end of June, restricting the times of day and the volume of fireworks that can be supplied to the public – as well as the times fireworks can be set off.
Community Safety Minister Ash Denham said: “Following the overwhelming results of the public consultation on fireworks that took place in 2019 it was clear fireworks are an important issue to the people of Scotland and that there is a strong appetite for change to improve safety.
“To help us consider the issue I appointed an independent Review Group of experts who concluded that a fundamental shift is needed in how fireworks are accessed and used.
“A number of the group’s recommendations required legislation and we have moved quickly to lay regulations which will see progress for communities across Scotland in time for this year’s fireworks period. The remaining Review Group recommendations require primary legislation which is why we are publishing this consultation today.
“I am also seeking views on how we might reduce the misuse of pyrotechnic devices such as hand held flares and smoke devices which represent a significant safety risk to anyone who comes into contact with them.
“I am committed to making our communities safer and to taking strong action now to avoid harm, distress and injury and I would encourage everyone with an interest to have their say.”
Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Linda Jones of Partnership, Prevention and Community Wellbeing said: “The unauthorised use of pyrotechnics at events is a criminal offence, inherently dangerous, and a matter of significant concern to Police Scotland.
“Pyrotechnics can burn at up to 1200 Celsius and have the potential to cause fatal or life-changing injuries to users and by-standers.
“They can emit chemicals which can trigger respiratory problems and cause irritation to eyes. The discharge of pyrotechnics can also cause panic within crowded spaces.
“There is no safe way to operate pyrotechnics unless you are properly trained – leave it to the experts at organised events.”
Chair of the Scottish Police Federation David Hamilton said: “In Scotland alone, scores of police officers and members of the public have been injured by pyrotechnic devices.
“This legislation would empower police officers to deal with this danger and would lead to safer streets and safer events for all.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: “It is clear that the inappropriate use of fireworks can cause harm and serious injury and can distress people, pets and the wider community.
“In a minority of cases, fireworks are linked to anti-social behaviour which can put our crews and our partners at risk whilst drawing unnecessarily on our emergency service resources.
“We therefore welcome any measures to keep our communities safe, including this Bill, and we join with the Minister in encouraging everyone with an interest to have their say.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Plastic Surgery Registrar Eleanor Robertson said: “We are delighted that recommendations from the Firework Review Group have been swiftly translated into impactful draft legislation.
“The proposed firework legislation in Scotland will introduce controls and safeguards at purchase and limit the time and location of their use.
“This will reduce the incidence of psychological distress and physical harm, whilst still permitting their use at celebratory events.”
Scottish SPCA head of education, policy and research Gilly Mendes Ferreira said: “We were proud to be part of the Fireworks Review Group and delighted that these recommendations are being taken forward.
“The introduction of ‘no fireworks zones’ will help stop animals suffering from stress caused by fireworks.”
Buccleuch Property is to bring forward proposals for the construction of an employment development with ancillary uses on land at Sheriffhall South, Gilmerton Road/Melville Gate, Dalkeith, Midlothian. The development will extend to over 10,000 square metres and will create approximately 300 jobs.
The developer has formally submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to Midlothian Council, informing that it intends to submit a planning application for the development following a minimum 12-week community consultation period.
The Scottish Government has suspended in-person public consultation events due to COVID-19.
Full details about the proposals will be made available to the public at 9 am on Tuesday 22nd June on the dedicated project website: www.sheriffhallsouth.com
An online consultation event will take place between 3pm and 7pm on Tuesday 22nd June. Interested parties can join the online event by visiting the project website during those hours at which time consultants will be available to answer any questions and receive feedback through a two-way chat system.
Feedback can also be submitted via the website following the online event, and information will be made available in paper format if requested.
Any representations or suggestions for changes to the proposals shared during the online event will be included in a Pre-Application Consultation report to accompany future applications.
Please note, comments made to the prospective applicant do not constitute representations to the Planning Authority. A further opportunity to make representations to Midlothian Council will be available following formal submission of the planning application.
If you are unable to access the exhibition boards on the day of the event, please contact Orbit Communications at hello@sheriffhallsouth.com or on 0131 202 3259 or at 4 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE and we can arrange for them to reach you in an alternative manner.
A spokesperson at Buccleuch Property said:“We’re delighted to be giving the public the chance to have a say on our development proposals at Sheriffhall South.This exciting employment development provides the community with high-quality new business space and ancillary services.
“We are consulting extensively to ensure that that the public have an opportunity to input their views and shape our proposals. We encourage the community to attend and ask any questions they may have.”
A consultation seeking the views of business, retailers and shop workers on New Year’s Day trading has been published by the Scottish Government.Union leaders have welcomed the announcement – but say it’s 14 years late!
The move follows an Usdaw petition to the Scottish Parliament, which was supported by the Public Petitions Committee who pressed Ministers to commit to a consultation.
Running for 10 weeks until 24 August, the consultation aims to determine whether the current law should change and restrict large retailers from trading on New Year’s Day as is the case on Christmas Day.
Affected stakeholders, including large retailers and their staff, are strongly encouraged to participate in the consultation which follows a parliamentary petition calling for trading on 1 January to be prohibited.
Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur said: “The last year has shown how much we all rely on retailers and their staff who have supported the country during the pandemic. As we look at recovery and building a sustainable economy we need to consider what will support businesses and their staff in the future.
“Following a petition to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee calling for trading to be banned on New Year’s Day, the Scottish Government has been engaging with business groups, trades unions and others to understand what impact this would have on business and staff.
“This consultation will help us to determine whether the current law should change and restrict large retailers from trading on New Year’s Day, as they currently do on Christmas Day.
“The Scottish Government encourages everybody with an interest to complete this consultation to ensure their views are considered.
“As we recover from the COVID pandemic we are committed to building on the £3.6 billion in support we have delivered to businesses since March 2020 and ensure we seize Scotland’s economic potential, creating secure, sustainable and satisfying jobs.”
Tracy Gilbert, Usdaw Regional Secretary for Scotland, said: “Today’s launch of a consultation on large stores closing on New Year’s Day, after an unnecessary 14 year delay, is a step forward in our campaign to get a proper break for shopworkers over the festive period.
“As key workers delivering the essential service of keeping the nation fed, shopworkers deserve a decent break over the festive period. They have worked long hours in difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic, faced unprecedented levels of abuse and worried every working day about catching the virus and taking it home to their families.
“However this is not just a campaign for the pandemic, our members have for many years demanded a proper break after the extremely busy and stressful shopping period in the run-up to Christmas. 98% say that large stores should be closed and only 4% are happy to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January.
“Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, with three-quarters saying they spend too little time with friends and family.
“We will be encouraging our members to engage with the consultation, to ensure the voices of shopworkers are heard. If we can secure a positive outcome, Usdaw will be calling for the necessary legislative processes to be completed in time for 1 January 2022.”
Development managers Bankfoot APAM have announced a consultation on plans to transform The Gyle shopping centre into a new ‘town centre’.The proposals are a radical departure from previous plans to extend the centre.
The Gyle was originally opened in 1993 after an investment of £68million. It quickly became one of the most successful shopping destinations in the east of Scotland and was extended soon after.
Previous owners had brought forward plans for small extensions for new retail units and a cinema, but these were rejected last year by the City Council.
Options now include a fully refreshed and enhanced retail offer, major new housing and office space on a site that has some of the best public transport links in Scotland and in an area (west Edinburgh) where up to 18,000 new homes are already planned.
The concept is to create a new town centre where people will live, work, shop and enjoy their leisure time in one of the most sustainable communities in Scotland.
The initial ideas reflect the fact that whilst The Gyle was once at the fringe of Edinburgh, it is now at the heart of one of Scotland’s fastest growing residential and commercial districts.
The options being consulted on include:
A new community in which people can live, work, shop, rest and play within easy reach of the city centre and countryside
A renewed and revitalised retail offer with enhanced facilities for click and collect, home delivery and other services
New homes for families and professionals that bring people to live more closely to their jobs to encourage more public transport use, cycling, and walking
A new east/west ‘green link’ that provides better and safer walking and cycling facilities and new public green space
Improved access to the existing Tram, Bus and Rail services that run through and around The Gyle
Chris Moore, Managing Director at Bankfoot APAM, said: “When the Gyle was built it was a leading modern shopping destination. However, we are now looking at a new normal that is very different for shopping and living.
“The creation of a new urban city district will help transform the visitor experience and bring many more new residents, workers and customers to the shops and facilities.
“Increasingly people will travel by public transport and the facilities need to reflect that new normal. We have seen the changes that the new St James development in the city centre is making to people’s shopping experience and our aim is to deliver better and higher quality shopping, rather than just increasing floorspace. We have also studied the quality of the proposals for new homes and offices at the nearby Edinburgh Park.
“Edinburgh is changing, and west Edinburgh is changing faster than almost anywhere in Scotland and our plans must reflect sustainability issues and respond positively to those changes. Looking ahead we should consider how best to serve our customers and meet their growing concerns about the environment. A more balanced community is what is proving to work best.
“We will be consulting local residents and communities on our new vision in the near future, and we look forward to starting the regeneration and revitalisation of The Gyle in a way that makes it an even more special place for many more people. The Gyle can again be one of the finest shopping destinations in the country, but our ambition is to make it one of the finest places to live, work and play as well.”
The concept is to create a new town centre where people will live, work, shop and enjoy leisure time, all in one of the most sustainable communities in Scotland.
The plans also include a new east and west ‘green link’ for safer walking and cycling facilities, along with more public green space, as well as improved access to the tram, bus and rail services that run through and around The Gyle.
City Centre Low Emission Zone proposed for Edinburgh
A preferred Low Emission Zone (LEZ) scheme for Edinburgh will be put to Transport and Environment Committee members for decision on Thursday (17 June), ahead of a public consultation.
A City Centre LEZ, broadly following the boundary first proposed for consultation in 2019 and applying to all motor vehicles except motorcycles and mopeds, has been recommended for approval.
This has been appraised against two other options – a City Centre LEZ with a revised boundary and a scheme incorporating both City Centre and Extended Urban Area (formerly known as Citywide) LEZs.
An evidence-led approach was taken when appraising the schemes, adhering to the National Low Emission Framework and based on detailed traffic and air quality modelling and data. Each option was assessed against a series of principles and objectives including the reduction of harmful NO2 and greenhouse gas emissions and minimising the displacement of traffic as a result of the LEZ.
If approved, a 12-week public consultation would be carried out seeking views on the preferred scheme. This would inform a report back to committee in autumn before the statutory process to introduce the LEZ begins, with the aim of implementing the scheme in spring 2022.
Once the LEZ is in place, vehicles must meet a minimum emissions standard to enter a zone freely, and those that don’t will be considered non-compliant and subject to penalties. Penalty charges are set nationally at £60 for non-compliant vehicles (though halved if paid within 30 days), with the penalty rate roughly doubling for subsequent contraventions within a 90-day period.
However, there will be a proposed two-year grace period for Edinburgh’s LEZ, meaning enforcement will begin in spring 2024.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “As we approach Clean Air Day, which aims to tackle air pollution and its harmful effects on our health and wellbeing, it’s fitting that we’re progressing our own plans to significantly improve air quality in the city.
“A great deal of analysis and monitoring has gone into the latest proposals for a Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh. This takes into account the urgent need to lower emissions for the good of our health, while remaining aware of the impact on local businesses, residents and on traffic patterns.
“We know from our consultation in 2019 that lowering air pollution matters to everyone, so I look forward to hearing from the public on the preferred option, if approved by committee.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “We have committed to introducing a Low Emission Zone, both under the national drive to implement LEZs across the country but also through the City Mobility Plan, as part of our plans to deliver a more sustainable, environmentally friendly transport future in Edinburgh.
“We will continue to work closely with residents, businesses and stakeholders as we move a step closer to its introduction, ensuring everyone is well prepared for the changes.”
Work to introduce an LEZ in Edinburgh began in 2018 in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to implement LEZs in Scotland’s four largest cities – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee – to tackle air pollution and protect public health.
It was originally intended that LEZs would be in place by 2020 but, due to the COVID pandemic, this date has been pushed back to 2022.
In 2019 the council carried out a public consultation on initial LEZ proposals for a City Centre LEZ applying to all vehicle types, introduced with a one-year grace period, addressing the worst concentrations of air pollution in the densely populated area.
In addition, the Extended Urban Area boundary was put forward to apply to all commercial vehicles – buses, coaches, Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), vans, taxis, and private hire cars – with a longer time to prepare (three years).
Responses to the consultation showed that cleaner air is important to everyone but demonstrated mixed views on the suitability of the proposed LEZ. Since then the council has worked with stakeholders including SEStran, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to develop the current proposal.
Officers appraised the options using the National Modelling Framework (NMF) developed by SEPA, along with other modelling and data analysis and feedback from the 2019 consultation. As a result, the City Centre LEZ alone has been recommended over the alternative City Centre LEZ and the Extended Urban Area LEZ.
This is due to various factors including the expected limited impact of the Extended Urban Area zone, with commercial fleet already improving in emissions standards, and predictions that the alternative City Centre zone would have a more negative impact on air quality at its boundary than that of the proposed City Centre LEZ.
While it is not expected that air pollution will get worse elsewhere in the city due to diversions around the boundary, and with cleaner vehicles expected to use the surrounding area, a Network Management Strategy is being developed to mitigate any impacts. This is likely to include junction reconfigurations, improvements to signage and optimised signalling, amongst other measures.
The Council has set out a city-wide approach to reducing Edinburgh’s greenhouse gas emissions as part of new plans being considered by Councillors to tackle climate change in the Capital.
It will call on residents, community groups and private, public and third sector organisations to work collaboratively to achieve the city’s ambitious climate goals.
Published yesterday, ahead of World Environment Day (June 5th), the Draft 2030 Climate Strategy sets a series of clear and practical steps Edinburgh will take to combat and adapt to climate change and reach its target of net zero emissions by 2030.
If the draft strategy is approved, a twelve-week online public consultation will kick off on Monday 14 June, seeking views from people and organisations all over the city on the draft strategy and on actions residents and businesses can take to tackle climate change.
The Climate Strategy, which follows on from the Council declaring a climate emergency in 2019, focuses on creating the right policy, regulatory and infrastructure conditions in the city to support net zero behaviour change.
It also lays out key areas where collaboration and partnership will be supported to deliver on Edinburgh’s climate targets.
And it further outlines how people, communities, businesses and organisations in Edinburgh can be supported and encouraged to take climate action – and stresses the need for everyone to work together to invest in a better future for the city.
The draft strategy, which will be discussed by members of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday 10 June, includes commitments to:
Establishing a powerful Climate Delivery Group of the city’s most influential Chief Executives to unlock collective action and develop a pipeline of net zero projects across the city.
Delivering a city-wide heat and energy masterplan by 2022 supported by a new strategic partnership with SP Energy Networks which will maximise the benefit of grid investment for the city and its citizens.
Bringing public sector organisations together to plan and coordinate the retrofit of the cities buildings.
Expanding the City Climate Compact to support small and medium sized business to transition to sustainable businesses practices.
Running a series of citizen awareness campaigns on sustainability and working with young people to embed a legacy of change from COP26 later this year.
Creating EV charging hubs for public service vehicles, making them available to residents, where possible, at key times and in key locations.
Test approaches to retrofit in challenging mixed-tenure and heritage settings, including Edinburgh’s World Heritage site.
Within the strategy, the Council is leading by example by committing to:
Deliver an ambitious new net zero development at Granton Waterfront and around 200 hectares of new and enhanced coastal park in North West Edinburgh.
Deliver an ‘Edinburgh Homes Demonstrator’, using new materials and on-site building techniques to deliver net zero, energy efficient buildings.
Prioritise investment in expanding Edinburgh’s walking and cycling routes to connect local services and amenities.
Scope pilot proposals for creating net zero communities in two neighbourhoods within the city.
Exploring the potential for ‘Nature Climate Bonds’ and a ‘Green Innovation Challenge’ finance scheme to support investment in the city’s natural environment and business transition.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Adam McVey said: “In the year that Scotland hosts COP26, the world’s eyes will be on Scotland, and on Edinburgh as its capital and we want to ensure this leaves a legacy of action to address the climate emergency.
“This strategy will help our businesses, public sector and organisations and residents across our communities reduce or remove their carbon footprint.
“Importantly it also lays out how will come together as a city to collaborate on action at the scale and pace we need to get to net zero by 2030.
“This includes our strategic partnership with SP Energy Networks which will ensure investment in the city’s grid has maximum benefit for our infrastructure plans and for businesses and residents alike.
“It’s only by working together as Team Edinburgh and with partners beyond that we can achieve the green future we need.
“This strategy aims to create the right conditions to unlock the opportunities that climate action presents, creating jobs and a more sustainable economy while we preserve our amazing Capital City for future generations.”
Depute Lead of City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Cammy Day said: “Research shows that we could get over 60% of the way to net zero with actions that pay for themselves within seven to twelve years. And while we don’t have all the answers today, we will be relentless as a city in our pursuit of a better greener net zero future for this city and its people.
“It is great to see that organisations across the city have their own sustainability plans and programmes of activity that are reducing the city’s emissions and that Edinburgh’s communities and citizens, and especially our young people, have a strong track record of climate action.
“But we must all go further and faster – and we can only do that through a joined-up collective effort.
“I encourage everyone in the city to take part in the consultation and to have their say in the proposals. Every positive action we take now will have a 10 times greater positive impact than if we waited to take these actions in 2030.”
Next steps for the draft 2030 Climate Strategy
If approved by the Policy and Sustainability Committee next week, a 12-week public consultation on the draft strategy will begin on Monday 14 June.
This will form the basis of a finalised strategy which would be brought to Committee later in the year alongside an implementation plan and initial cost analysis.
Alex Hilliam, Commissioner for the Edinburgh Climate Commission said: “The launch of the City of Edinburgh Council’s draft 2030 Climate Strategy is the start of an exciting conversation for the city as it maps out the decisions we need to take to help tackle climate change in the capital.
“We know this topic is of huge concern to the people who live, work and visit this city and, with the eyes of the world upon Scotland later this year with COP26, this strategy is an opportunity for Edinburgh to lead the way in taking bold action to tackle climate change and reducing the impact of harmful greenhouse gas emissions for future generations.
“We’re pleased that this ambitious and long-term plan also recognises the role that tackling climate change has in improving people’s quality of life – from creating new jobs and boosting the economy, to helping reduce fuel poverty and inequalities in the city. It is critical that the final strategy and the supporting implementation plan gives meaning to this ambition and turns it into a reality.
“We look forward to responding to the consultation and urge everyone to have a say on Edinburgh’s plans.”
Guy Jefferson, Chief Operating Officer for SP Energy Networks, said: “We fully support Edinburgh’s ambition to become a Net Zero city by 2030 and today’s publication of the 2030 Climate Strategy is to be welcomed as it outlines what is required of government, industry and communities to bring about the significant change that is required in this decade.
“As the electricity distribution and transmission operator for Central and Southern Scotland, we take our responsibilities seriously and recognise that we have a key role to play in helping the city of Edinburgh deliver on its ambitious, but achievable, Net Zero target.
“We will be delighted to develop proposals for a strategic partnership with Edinburgh City Council as it is only through collaboration between government and industry that we can harness the knowledge, skills and resources we need to tackle climate change.
“Net Zero is now the prism through which we take all our business decisions, and that has been a profound change for us. It’s one of the key drivers of our decision to become a Principal Partner of the COP26 global climate change conference, which is taking place in Scotland later this year. By working with our city partners in Edinburgh we can deliver the cleaner, greener and better future we all want, quicker.
Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Liz Mcareavey said: “The City of Edinburgh Council is taking a leadership role in tackling the climate challenge.
“Not only have we set an ambitious target to achieve net zero carbon by 2030 but the draft Climate Strategy is a clear and detailed document that outlines what needs to be done and how we all have to play our part.
“Not one sector of the city can do this alone and this strategy creates the pathway to success. I commend the work done and look forward to engaging with the City of Edinburgh Council and the business community to ensure business makes a significant contribution to our net zero ambitions but also to take advantage of the opportunities to develop our green economy.”
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) said: “At EVOC, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council, we welcome the publication of City of Edinburgh Council’s Draft 2030 Climate Strategy, not only a key milestone in Edinburgh’s journey to net zero, by 2030, while also a commitment to supporting the development of thriving local communities across the city.
“There is a recognition that every citizen, community, community or third sector organisation, and company, have a role to play in achieving Edinburgh’s ambitious climate goals is hugely important.
“We welcome the opportunity for the voluntary and community sector to collaborate in the development and delivery of the strategy as well as empowering the people and communities they support to get involved, and champion where its citizens are already taking positive action.
“We hope that the goals of the strategy will connect with other landmark initiatives, such as the actions and cultural change outlined in the Edinburgh Poverty Commission’s report, working to end poverty by 2030, while also enabling the developments in green skills and jobs, that are part of a recovery with wellbeing of people and nature at the heart of it.”
A second phase of community engagement on plans to introduce Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in two areas of Edinburgh begins today.
Between 8 February and 5 March, the city councill sought the views of residents in Corstorphine, Leith and East Craigs on their travel choices and use of their community spaces for movement and relaxation to help us develop proposals for each area in partnership with the local communities themselves. In total we received around 2200 responses across the three communities.
After the first phase of engagement, there was a clear appetite within Leith and Corstorphine to move forward with more detailed dialogue.
For East Craigs the council will be bringing an additional report on plans for the area to the next Transport and Environment Committee in recognition of the majority of respondents reporting, during our initial engagement in February/March, that traffic levels were not significant on most residential streets.
However, some residents did indicate that there are issues with high traffic volumes on selected streets. We’ll therefore propose to have further discussion on targeted traffic reduction with the East Craigs community at a later date, with a view to bringing proposals back to a future meeting of Transport and Environment Committee.
In Leith and Corstorphine the council is now looking for feedback on initial recommendations to create safer, more comfortable environments for walking, cycling and wheeling, as well as for spending time in local streets and outdoor spaces.
These have been informed by the opinions and ideas shared during the first phase of engagement, as well as traffic data which indicates where there are issues around intrusive traffic.
As part of this second phase of engagement they will be holding co-design-type workshops with community representatives so that the design team can closely explore details in greater depth with the community.
Each of the schemes will be refined following the current period of engagement and brought back to Transport and Environment Committee. If approved, they would be then be introduced on a trial basis via an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) towards the end of 2021.
For Corstorphine, two options have been proposed to improve safety on the High Street, as well as various interventions elsewhere in the area to restrict through traffic, particularly around schools.
The Leith Connections project designs consist of two elements – a high-quality segregated cycle route between the Foot of the Walk and Ocean Terminal, which will be introduced on a permanent basis, and an experimental LTN in the area between Salamander Street, Commercial Street, North and Great Junction Street, Duke Street and the roads around Leith Links.
The LTN designs include restrictions to through traffic and ‘parklets’ to encourage more people to walk, cycle and spend time.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Over the last year we’ve seen the impact that lower traffic volumes and space to walk and cycle can have on our environment.
“As we work to make a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, we’re looking at ways of working together with our communities on designs and proposals that would make neighbourhoods more liveable, easier to move around by active travel and welcoming to spend time in.
“Thanks to thousands of comments on the initial engagement about our plans to introduce Low Traffic Neighbourhoods across the city, as well as traffic monitoring both before and after the pandemic to identify intrusive traffic hotspots, we’ve been able to develop a set of proposals for Leith and Corstorphine that really address the issues facing these neighbourhoods, helping to tackle barriers to walking, cycling and wheeling.
“As we now start the next phase of public engagement on these proposals we’ll be continuing to work closely with the communities in a co-design-style approach which involves residents in each key step of the projects’ development.
“In East Craigs, there was a clear view that for most people there weren’t significant traffic problems on most residential streets, although some residents did report too much traffic on certain streets.
“That’s why we’re currently putting the LTN plans on hold in East Craigs. We’d like to come back to discuss ideas on targeted traffic reduction with the community sometime in the future, but for now, we look forward to working with communities in Corstorphine and Leith to take forward designs there.
Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “We’ve seen from examples around the world how Low Traffic Neighbourhoods can encourage community interaction and healthy, active travel, and we want to see this happen in Edinburgh.
“Please let us know what you think of the initial plans for Leith and Corstorphine, so we can deliver schemes which work for as many people as possible.”
Key findings from engagement with the public earlier this year include:
Walking was the largest travel mode used by respondents to the survey, with cycling higher than the national average at 9%.
Safety of streets for cycling and safety of streets for walking were the main factors that prevent respondents from making trips by foot or bike within the local area.
51% of respondents think that traffic levels and speeds for children cycling or walking are unsafe or very unsafe.
75% of survey respondents strongly support or support the aim for improving cycling conditions in Leith.
80% of survey respondents strongly support or support the aim for improving walking conditions in Leith.
The most popular local destinations were Ocean Terminal, Leith Walk and Leith Links. Walking was used for the highest proportion of these journeys with between 44-65% of trips and cycling was used on 13-23% of trips.
Speed and volume of traffic on Craigs Road was felt by some in the community to be too high and conditions could be improved for people walking and cycling, however there was also general feedback that most streets in the area were not felt by survey respondents to have high traffic volumes or speeds.
School drop off/pick up times were highlighted as a particular issue on some streets, resulting in higher volumes of traffic and parking.
Alongside this engagement feedback, project teams have collected and assessed traffic data from before and during COVID to help identify streets where intrusive traffic is a problem. This data has generally corresponded closely to the streets that residents have highlighted as having high traffic volumes and speeds.
Traffic operations plans have been developed to help people to plan journeys around their communities by different transport modes. Every residence will remain accessible by motor vehicle.
Engagement on the Leith and Corstorphine proposals will run from TODAY (Friday 4 June) until 4 July, during which time respondents can view and comment on designs. We’ll also be consulting with key stakeholders including community councils, ward councillors, emergency services and mobility and access groups.
The ETRO process for introducing changes, if approved, includes further public consultation on the traffic regulation changes, with the results to be reported back to Transport and Environment Committee in autumn, when a decision would be made about whether to implement the LTNs on a trial basis (for up to 18 months).
ETROs allow us to trial measures, in collaboration with the community and stakeholders, to evaluate their impacts and benefits prior to permanent implementation. During the trial we will be monitoring the impacts of the changes and asking for public feedback.
Measures along the future cycle route from Leith Walk to Ocean Terminal, which will change traffic movement in the area, are proposed to be implemented at the same time as the trial LTN. These relate to a permanent route design and have already been through public engagement.
You’ll be able to find out more and share your views on Leith and Corstorphine proposals from today.
Responses to a major consultation and market research exercise on perceptions of Spaces for People measures, and whether they should be retained, have been published by the city council.Lothians MSP Miles Briggs says the results show the SNP-Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ has made a ‘total dog’s breakfast’ of the Spaces for People scheme
More than 17,600 people responded to our public consultation in March, which asked respondents about their familiarity with schemes introduced to help people walk, cycle and wheel safely during the COVID pandemic, and whether they would like to see them kept longer-term.
Alongside this, market research was carried out by independent market research consultants on our behalf, providing a statistically representative sample of opinion from a cross section of residents.
Officers are assessing each scheme for retention using a set of criteria agreed at January’s Transport and Environment Committee, including whether they encourage walking and cycling, how they impact businesses and whether they affect public transport. The longer-term contribution to the Council’s strategic transport objectives will also be considered.
Feedback gathered through consultation and market research will be taken into account as part of the assessments and will help guide recommendations on which schemes to keep beyond the pandemic, which will be considered by Transport and Environment Committee on 17 June.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Firstly, I want to thank all those who took the time to complete the consultation. The changes we have introduced reach across Edinburgh, so we wanted to hear from as many different people in communities around the city as possible.
“Officers have been assessing each of the schemes for retention using a set of criteria agreed by committee and responses to the consultation and market research will be part of this process, helping to form recommendations for the best way forward.
“I look forward to constructive debate with fellow councillors on the future of these schemes, and how they can benefit residents and visitors to Edinburgh longer term.”
Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “Over the last year we’ve introduced many measures to help people physically distance and travel safely during the pandemic, and there have been a range of opinions shared on their effectiveness and impacts on the people who live here.
“Thanks to the feedback gathered in March, we’ll now be able to take people’s comments and ideas into account as we assess each scheme, meaning a rounded approach as we move beyond the pandemic.”
Far from a ’rounded approach’, Tory Lothians MSP Miles Briggs has branded the council’s handling of the scheme ‘a total dog’s breakfast’.
Miles Briggs said that 60% of Edinburgh residents are opposed to the scheme, and added: “The people of Edinburgh have spoken and it is clear that residents across the Capital have lost confidence in Spaces for People.
“From the outset many local representatives have expressed concern at the total lack on consultation and the introduction of schemes which have had a negative impact on all road users – yet the Council knowns best approach has prevailed.
“It is inconceivable for Edinburgh Council to continue with Spaces for People with a significant majority of people against the scheme.
“There have been countless issues and risks with Spaces for People and Edinburgh Council must now start to listen and reverse these changes immediately.
“There has been an overwhelming amount of opposition and the plan to make Spaces for People permanent must be taken off the table.
“It is clear that the SNP / Labour coalition running Edinburgh City Council have made a total dog’s breakfast of the Spaces for People scheme and if they will not act this is set to become a major campaign issue at the Council elections next year.”
Questions in both the consultation and market research focused on how much people supported or opposed retaining changes in place, what they considered to be the main benefits or disadvantages of retaining measures and which schemes people would especially like to see retained or removed.
While there were differences in the level of support or opposition for schemes between consultation and market research results, in general, for both, participants shared the strongest support for measures at schools, followed by schemes in the city centre.
Both reported lower rates of support for town centre interventions and protected cycle lanes, with the lowest levels of support for leisure connections and Quiet Connections, with many market research respondents saying they weren’t aware of these changes.
The council began introducing Spaces for People measures in May 2020 in order to ‘help people physically distance, travel safely and exercise during the COVID pandemic’.
In January 2021 it was agreed to explore the potential for retaining some of the schemes longer-term, in recognition of their impact on Council objectives to encourage walking and cycling, improve air quality, reduce congestion and achieve net zero carbon emissions, amongst other commitments.
Three separate surveys aimed at residents, businesses and stakeholders were conducted for the consultation. This was made available in a range of formats including regular print, large print, braille and translation into other languages. A British Sign Language video was also displayed on the project website to further widen access to people with hearing loss.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes has written in yesterday’s Edinburgh Evening News (Wednesday, 2 June) on the aims of Spaces for People, and plans to move forward with the programme – see below.
We’re working to get the balance right
It’s now more than a year since we began introducing Spaces for People measures to help people to make journeys by foot, bike and wheelchair safely while physically distancing.
It was inevitable that introducing changes in so many parts of the city would give rise to differing reactions, with people expressing both concerns and positive comments.
We’re now considering the results of a major consultation and market research on the changes we’ve made, and whether people would like any of them to be kept more permanently. Before we move to the next stage, I want to take this opportunity to comment on some of the key issues that have arisen since the start of the pandemic.
Some people have asked us why we’ve been making these changes. Last year, in the depths of lockdown, we had very little choice. As the nation came to terms with a ‘new normal’ where 2m physical distancing is needed, the way we moved around the city changed drastically. People were stepping on roads to give one another space, cycling along busy routes to avoid public transport or squeezing onto narrow pavements to take daily exercise.
Throughout the course of the last year our approach has evolved with the changing situation, and strands of the programme reflect that. From the beginning, when we created Spaces for Exercise, so people could get to places like Silverknowes prom safely (and they did, in great number), to our city and town centres schemes to add space on busy high streets. Restrictions outside schools helped limit crowding as pupils returned to full-time learning and Travelling Safely measures provided much-needed cycle space on busy roads as alternatives to congested off-road networks, along with a scheme to remove obstructive street clutter from our streets.
Both the Scottish and UK Governments have encouraged and funded local authorities across the country to make temporary changes to facilitate active travel. Through the Scottish Government, via Sustrans, we’ve been awarded £5.25m in total specifically to provide additional space for physical distancing in the pandemic – and I want to be clear that we can’t spend this money on filling potholes or elsewhere.
To those who question Sustrans’ influence over our decisions – Sustrans is a respected, national charity and we value their input highly. But these decisions are very much our own. It’s our responsibility to protect citizens’ safety, to support businesses to thrive and to give children and families space to enjoy safe, pollution-free routes.
This is an entirely new situation, and I know that some of the road layouts have taken time to adjust to. But we’re also in the midst of a crisis. We’ve followed guidance set by the Scottish Government to help us get these emergency changes to protect public health on the ground quickly – in fact, we’ve gone further than expected to engage with key stakeholders on every single scheme. As a result, we’ve tweaked and improved many of the measures along the way.
It’s thanks to the efforts of our dedicated Spaces for People team that we’ve been able to respond to community concerns. Each intervention is carefully risk assessed, taking blue badge parking and loading into account, and is closely monitored once in place. People’s safety is our priority, and we notify emergency services about every intervention, addressing any access issues if necessary.
As restrictions are eased alongside the rapid rollout of vaccinations across the population, some may ask why we still need interventions like these in place. While there is much to be grateful for, we’re not out of the woods yet. The fast-spreading Indian variant of the COVID virus still threatens to set back best laid plans to fully exit lockdown. Large sections of society, many of whom don’t own a car, still feel nervous to set foot on public transport. And as businesses reopen with restrictions in place, queues will become commonplace on our streets.
That these changes are helping to people to walk, cycle and wheel more easily aligns with our strategic policy goals too. Our ambitious ten-year City Mobility Plan focuses on sustainable travel, while projects like City Centre Transformation will facilitate travel by foot, wheelchair or bike. Our commitments to become carbon neutral by 2030, to significantly improve air quality and to encourage healthy, active travel will benefit from people choosing to walk or cycle over private car journeys.
Of course, we recognise some schemes have caused disruption and we want to minimise that for residents and businesses. This is a difficult balance but we’re trying again to get it right.
We have no intention of pushing through any permanent schemes under the cover of Spaces for People. We want to bring the people of Edinburgh along with us. That’s why we would be using Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to implement any longer-term changes, meaning we can continue to involve local people in their operation and evolution once in place.
Many of the changes we’ve made, it’s worth noting, are as a result of our Commonplace consultation last year and have been informed by residents’ suggestions for improvements. The 17,600 responses we received to the latest consultation, along with the findings of in-depth marketing research conducted with a representative cross-section of residents, will be invaluable as we progress to the next stage of the programme.
This insight, along with the expertise of our officers, who are working to a defined set of criteria approved by elected councillors in committee, will help us to understand where we can make schemes better, how they can be changed to suit more people and where, in some areas, they can be scaled back.
Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given out by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.
In particular, the city council would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.
Examples of unpaid work include:
repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture
The council is seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and wants to know:
Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?
As well as using the questionnaire to comment on community payback you can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.
Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh about their views on Community Payback Orders, and the work carried out by the people subject to them.
“Through our consultation we also hope to identify more opportunities in the Capital for unpaid community work to be carried out. This work could include community clear ups, repainting community centres or recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.
“They are an excellent way for organisations such as charities to get practical help, and they give people who commit offences the chance to pay back to communities and develop new skills.
The information we collect will help us to improve how we work with communities and help to increase understanding of CPOs and their importance in helping people reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.”
