Tag: council budget

Council commits over £30 million to tackle Edinburgh’s broken roads

Councillors have agreed to take forward an ‘ambitious suite’ of infrastructure and road safety works in the coming year, worth over £30m.

The Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 spreads the capital budget of £25.686m across six different work streams.

Carriageways and footways will receive £18.161m and focus on repairing roads and pavements. Street lighting and traffic signals have £1.220m, which will be used to maintain and improve this network.

Road structures take £1.545m and focusses on road bridges, foot bridges, underpasses, tunnels and gantries. Road operations will get £2.460m and encompasses drainage repairs, bus stop maintenance and surface enhancement. Other asset management and miscellaneous spending amounts to £2.3m.

The additional £12.5m of funding agreed in February’s budget has been integrated into the programme to improve paths, pavements and road conditions.

An extra £12.5m of funding was also agreed last year, with a record 460,000m2 of carriageways and 52,000m2 of footways receiving treatment in that period. The Council’s Road Condition Indicator (RCI), which signifies the percentage of roads that should be considered for investment, also saw a significant improvement in 2024/25.

The council will look to build on these results in the coming year by undertaking a combination of carriageway strengthening, carriageway resurfacing, carriageway surface treatment, footway asphalt, footway flags and footway slurry sealing.

The report also outlines Edinburgh’s Street Lighting Programme and looks further ahead to their Setted Street Priorities in the next six financial years with Frederick Street, Victoria Street and the Shore all featuring for refurbishment.

Edinburgh’s Road Safety Delivery Plan 2025/26 allocates over £6m across the service. As part of this, the Road Safety team will address concerns around the Dalmahoy Junction and prioritise infrastructure improvements for safe school travel, including additional pedestrian crossings.

There will also be provision for Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP), speed reduction measures and new 30mph and 20mph speed limit reductions over this and the forthcoming year. A full breakdown can be found in Appendix 2 of the report. Road safety progress will be reported to Committee in October, following elected member workshops to drive forward existing priority projects.

These allocations are driven by the council’s main priorities in the year ahead to promote road safety, study road accidents, review our vacant school crossing sites, take preventative measures and offer information, advice and practical training to road users.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m really pleased that these two ambitious and wide-reaching reports have been agreed.

“Our residents have made it abundantly clear that they want and expect continued investment in our roads network. Road safety also goes hand in hand with road condition and investment, with roads that are better maintained equalling safer roads for our children and young people. This is what I’m committed to delivering.

“From carriageway strengthening in Corstorphine and surface treatment in Seafield, to street lighting in Leith and road safety education in Ratho, we’re focussed on fulfilling our commitments and getting to work for the people of Edinburgh.”

A list of definitions for treatment specifications mentioned above in the Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 report are below:

Carriageway Strengthening: A substantial treatment with a minimum depth of 100mm. This includes removal of the surfacing and base course of the carriageway. Deeper excavations may be required depending on existing condition. Deeper excavations are required a bus stops.

Carriageway Resurfacing: This treatment removes the surface course only. The depth of treatment is generally 40-50mm.

Carriageway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the carriageway. It is used primarily on carriageways that are starting to deteriorate. CEC uses two surface treatments: Surface Dressing and Micro Asphalt.

Footway Asphalt: Break out of the existing asphalt footway. Depth will be dependent on existing condition. Kerbs are generally lifted and re-set as part of this treatment.

Footway Flags: Break out of the existing footway with flags (slabs) being installed. Generally, pre-cast concrete flags are used, however, the following material is specified in the World Heritage Site: Old Town: Caithness Stone Flags New Town: Yorkstone Flags

Footway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the footway.

Roads and Infrastructure Investment Capital Delivery Priorities for 202526Download

Parent Councils call for safer roads in Edinburgh

PARENTS in Edinburgh have called for urgent action after new figures emerged it could take 25 YEARS to clear a road safety backlog unless  budgets are increased.

Parent Councils from 53 primary and secondary  school from across the city have written to all their MSPs and Councillors  calling for an increase in road safety funding, which they say is needed to  keep children safe. 

The Freedom of Information (FoI) statistics were gathered after a child was  killed on their way to school in North Edinburgh last year. 

In the FoI response, parent council’s discovered that, as of June 2024, there  are 96 red flag sites on Edinburgh City Council’s speed reduction list.

Shockingly, despite this, only 19 roads have been improved in the last five  years. At this rate, it would take 25 years to act on all the Edinburgh roads  currently on the list. 

The Parent Councils have now written to Edinburgh and Lothian MSPs and  City of Edinburgh councillors demanding that budget makers prioritise  road safety around schools. 

In that letter, they point out that it’s only a matter of time before another  tragedy occurs. 

The parents say that an increased road safety budget is needed to tackle  the backlog and ensure that future changes are made within a year of a  site being identified for speed reduction measures.

Another FOI response showed that, in 2023/24, the road safety budget was  £1.5m which was just 1% of the total road and transport budget for that  year. 

Kim Pratt, vice chair of the Davidson’s Mains Primary School Parent  Council, said: “A 25 year backlog in speed reduction measures is condemning every child  in Edinburgh to navigating unsafe roads for the rest of their school days. 

“No child should be risking their life when traveling to school and it’s  unacceptable that safety recommendations are being ignored. 

“We do understand that the council is under financial pressure but getting  children to school safely must be a priority. 

“The call from parent councils from across Edinburgh shows that this is a  systemic problem. Politicians in Edinburgh have the power to protect our  children by increasing road safety funding and by making road safety  around schools a priority in all future road developments.” 

Lynsey Houston, chair of Craiglockhart Parent & Carer Council said: “I know that since Craiglockhart parents first raised concerns about road safety, some of the children have now graduated high school!  

“A potential timescale of 25yrs is ridiculous but highlights the desperate need for more resources. After all, when we ask for improvements, we are  asking for our council and government to prevent a tragic outcome.”

THE LETTER READS:

Monday, 3rd February 2025

To all Edinburgh and Lothian MSPs and City of Edinburgh
Councillors,

INCREASE THE CITY’S ROAD SAFETY BUDGET TO KEEP EDINBURGH
CHILDREN SAFE


We represent parents of children who attend schools across Edinburgh and we are calling on you, as our political representatives with control over the City of Edinburgh Council’s budget, to increase funding for road safety.

Our children are being harmed on their way to and from school. Last year, a child was killed on their way to school in Edinburgh and we believe, in the current situation, it is only a matter of time before this happens again.

A response to a Freedom Of Information request has shown that, as of June 2024, there are 96 sites on the Council’s speed reduction list and only 19 roads have been improved in the Last five years. At this rate, it will take 25 years to act on
all the roads currently on the list.

This is unacceptable to many parents, whose children will grow up and leave school before changes are acted on. Our children are navigating unsafe roads now.

Whilst we understand that the Council is under huge pressure around funding, we believe that road safety, particularly around schools, should be more of a priority than it currently is.

Another FOI response showed that, in 2023/24, the road safety budget was £1.5m which was just 1% of the total road and transport budget for that year. You must increase Edinburgh Council’s road safety funding to reduce the backlog in speed reduction improvements and make future changes in a reasonable and responsible time period. We believe that, once a site is identified for speed reduction
measures, improvements should be completed within a year and the Council should be funded appropriately.

All road budget spending should consider how safety around a school can be
built into improvements.

We look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,


Kim Pratt, Davidsons Mains Parent Council
On behalf of the following Parent Councils of Edinburgh:

  1. Davidson’s Mains Primary School Parent Council
  2. Gilmerton Primary School Parent Council
  3. Craigour Park Primary School Parent Teacher Council
  4. Craiglockhart Parents & Carers Council
  5. Canaan Lane Primary School Parent Council
  6. Flora Stevenson Parent Council
  7. Cramond Primary School Parent Council
  8. James Gillespies Primary School Parent Council
  9. Nether Currie Primary School Parent Council
  10. James Gillespie’s High School Parent Council
  11. Royal High School Parent Council
  12. Preston Street Primary School
  13. Clermiston Primary Parent Council
  14. Trinity Primary Parent Council
  15. Duddingston Primary Parent Council
  16. Dalry Primary Parents and Carers Council
  17. Chomhairle Phàrant Bhun-Sgoil Taobh na Pàirce
  18. Bruntsfield Primary School Parent Council
  19. Longstone Primary School Parent Council
  20. Blackhall Primary School
  21. Forthview Primary School Parent Council
  22. Stockbridge Primary School Parent Council
  23. Pentland Primary School Parent Council
  24. Leith Walk Primary School Parent Council
  25. Granton Primary School Parent Council
  26. Castleview Primary School Council
  27. East Craigs Primary Parent School
  28. Craigentinny Primary School
  29. St Andrew’s Fox Covert RC Primary School
  30. Fox Covert Primary School
  31. Gylemuir Primary School Parent Council
  32. St Peter’s RC Primary School Parent Council
  33. Oxgangs Primary School Parent Council
  34. Roseburn Primary School Parent Partnership
  35. St Thomas of Aquins Parent Council
  36. Frogston Primary School Parent Council
  37. Royal High Primary School
  38. Bonaly Primary School
  39. Holyrood RC High School
  40. South Morningside Primary School Parent Council
  41. St. Catherine’s RC primary school
  42. Kirkliston Primary School Association
  43. Currie Community High School Parents in Partnership
  44. Sciennes Primary School Parent Council
  45. Wardie Family Forum for Wardie Primary School
  46. St Mary’s Primary School Parent Forum Council
  47. Broughton Primary School Parent Council
  48. Abbeyhill Primary School Parent Council
  49. Corstorphine Primary School
  50. Gilmerton Parents Council
  51. Portobello High School Parent Council
  52. Ferryhill Primary School Parent Council
  53. St Ninian’s Primary School Parents Council
letter-pdfDownload

Letter to MSPs and Councillors from parent councils, sent Monday 3rd February 2025

Which Council services are important to you?

We want to continue to invest in services that matter most to our residents. But with reducing budgets, rising costs and increasing demand, we need to do things differently and more efficiently while saving £143 million by 2028/29.

We want to hear residents’ views on:

  • where we can save money
  • where we’re doing well
  • where we need to improve.

Your feedback and suggestions will help us to develop proposals to balance our budget. They’ll also help Councillors understand your needs and priorities when they make decisions about how to spend the city’s budget.

How to get involved

You can fill in our online budget survey or come along to any of our drop-in sessions around the city. You don’t need to book and can come any time between 10am and 1pm.

  • Tuesday 7 May 10am to 1pm – Morningside Library, 178-182 Morningside Road, Morningside, EH10 4PU
  • Tuesday 14 May 10am to 1pm – McDonald Road Library, 2-8 McDonald Road, EH7 4LU
  • Tuesday 21 May 10am to 1pm – South East Locality, 40 Captain’s Road, EH17 8QF
  • Tuesday 28 May 10am to 1pm – Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street, EH11 1BG
  • Tuesday 4 June 10am to 1pm – South Queensferry, 9 Shore Road, South Queensferry, EH30 9RD
  • Tuesday 11 June 10am to 1pm – North East Hub, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DS
  • Tuesday 18 June 10am to 1pm – North West Locality, 8 Pilton Gardens, EH4 4DP
  • Tuesday 25 June 10am to 1pm – South West Locality, Westside Plaza, EH14 2ST

Granton CC to hold Drop-in Day

RWCC (2)

Granton & District Community Council are holding a Drop In event:

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

on Tuesday 9 December

between 10 am – 7 pm

We will be there so that people can drop in and comment on the budget proposals that the council are discussing. To support this we are in the process of undertaking a partial leaflet drop of the area that not only advertises the event but provides details of our web site, twitter and telephone contact number. This forms part of our engagement strategy going forward.

Granton flyer Poster Budget

Dave Macnab

Secretary, Granton and District Community Council

http://grantonanddistrictcommunitycouncil.com/

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantonDistCC

Forth Neghbourhood Partnership meets on Tuesday

Like to have your say on the council’s spending priorities? Forth Neighbourhood Partnership’s next Business Meeting will be held in public and discussion will focus on the Council Budget for 2014/15. The meeting takes place next Tuesday (3 December) from 6 – 8pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

Click here for more information.

RWCC (2)

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meets next Wednesday

The next public meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership takes place on

Wednesday  6 November at 7.30pm in Blackhall Library.

As well as regular Neighbourhood Partnership business of small grant awards and roads funding, next week’s event will also be an opportunity to hear more about the Council’s budget proposals and find out how to have your say on this.

More info here.

BlackhallLibraryblog

Have your say on council budget at Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership

A4 poster October 2013

The next meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership takes place on

Wednesday 6 November at 7.30pm at Blackhall Library.

The main part of the meeting will be Have your say on the Council’s Budget. More information on this can be found here.

 Also on the agenda will be Community Grants Funding and also spend of additional £50,000 roads money in North.

We hope that you can join us. If you have any question, please get back to me.

Full papers will be available for download in advance of the meeting here.

Elaine Lennon, Partnership Development Officer

Tel: 0131 529 5270

Blackhall Library
Blackhall Library