Over £1 million in the bag!

Monday (20 April) is the six month anniversary of the single-use carrier bag charge

Scotland’s Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced that four retailers have donated more than £1 million to good causes as a result of the single-use carrier bag charge, which came into effect almost six months ago.

The indicative figure has been revealed following retailer reports that single-use carrier bag usage has been reduced by more than 80 per cent since the charge was introduced on October 20, 2014.

Nationwide retailers that signed up to Zero Waste Scotland’s Carrier Bag Commitment – an agreement to disclose information on the charge, and donations made, to a central publicly available portal – are reporting that various charities up and down the country have also benefited from funds raised by the charge.

Mr Lochhead made the announcement at an Asda store in Elgin. Over the coming months, Zero Waste Scotland will collect data on carrier bag use and funds raised for good causes ahead of the first official figures being released later this year.

Presently, Asda is indicating a more than 90 per cent reduction in single-use carrier bag use, while raising £350,000 for two social enterprise charities – Social Investment Scotland and Foundation Scotland. The Co-operative Food has used the 5p charge to raise £375,000 for community projects across Scotland, reporting a usage reduction of 80 per cent.

Marks & Spencer has raised £214,374 for good causes, with £88,446 going to the Marine Conservation Society, £88,446 going to WWF, including the Orkney sustainable Fishery Improvement Programme, and a further £37,482 going to a range of local Scottish charities. The retailer is reporting an overall usage reduction of around 50 per cent in the past six months, which is significant as it comes in addition to the reductions already achieved by the introduction of a 5p charge on larger food bags in 2008.

Morrisons has also reported an 80 per cent reduction, and funds raised for the Morrisons Foundation – which will donate to good causes in Scotland – in line with the levels reported by the other retailers.

Other founding signatories include:

Scottish branches of national retailers such as McDonalds, Premier Stores, Waitrose, Argos, Austin Reed, Papyrus, Jaegar, Ted Baker, Adidas, Mango and T. M. Lewin & Sons
Local businesses including McEwen’s of Perth, EUSA Potter Shop, the Highland Soap Company, J&G Coia Sweetshop in Edinburgh, Taylors of Banchory, Pentland Foods, Andersons of Inverurie, and R&K Stenhouse in Clackmannanshire.
Top tourist destinations such as Gleneagles, The Green Welly Stop, Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Kilmartin Museum and all sites run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Mr Lochhead said: “I’m delighted that in just six months the carrier bag charge is already making such a big impact in Scotland.

“I very much welcome the dramatic reductions in carrier bag use being reported by these major retailers. It suggests that many consumers are now in the habit of reusing bags, which should reduce the amount of litter that blights our communities and natural environment, and costs a fortune to clean up.

“This primary purpose of this legislation is to clean up our streets and beaches by cutting carrier bag use. But it’s also fantastic that the charge has already raised so much money for worthy causes from just these four retailers alone. This is just the tip of the iceberg and I am looking forward to seeing fuller figures later in the year – but in the meantime I encourage all retailers to sign up to the Carrier Bag Commitment to ensure that shoppers can have full transparency over where the money being raised from the charge is going.”

Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Over the past six months, we’ve seen an incredible change to shopping habits in Scotland. Shoppers have embraced the 5p charge and rapidly reduced their consumption of single-use carrier bags more readily than we ever hoped.

“I’d like to thank all the founding signatories published today, to our Carrier Bag Commitment, and urge more retailers to join them. Initial feedback from signatories suggests that more than £1 million has been raised for good causes in Scotland and by embracing the 5p single-use bag charge, businesses and shoppers are helping reduce waste and repair the damage already done. We can all be proud of that.”

By signing up to the Carrier Bag Commitment, signatories can gain access to Zero Waste Scotland’s reporting portal which is an easy way of meeting the legal obligation to record data on the number of bags sold, amount raised and how the proceeds were used, which applies to retailers employing 10 or more full-time equivalent staff.

Asda’s Senior Director for Scotland Kevin McBride said: “At Asda, we want the carrier bag charge to have long-term social – as well as environmental – benefits. By working with our partners, Social Investment Scotland and Foundation Scotland, we have the opportunity to invest innovatively in our local communities, helping to grow the social enterprise sector and supporting local projects in every Asda mile.

“By working in partnership in this way, we can ensure that the carrier bag charge delivers meaningful, sustainable benefits for Scotland, helping to drive growth, create jobs and regenerate communities for the long-term.”

Walled garden friends set meeting date

The next meeting of the Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

will be held on Thursday 23 April from 6 -7.30 pm

at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Agenda so far:

Community ideas and aspirations – new additions to our list like the solar powered cycletrack to light up at night, recreation of a bit of the medieval castle!
Funding to make things happen – priorities?
Awareness raising, membership and voting rights.
EDI/WEL meeting
Planning committee meeting & Local Development Plan

Seating for 20, so please get in touch if you want to come along or put forward suggestions or questions for the meeting.

PS: Feedback from the exhibition at North Edinburgh Arts café has been very positive with many people surprised and glad to hear about the Friends Group campaign to safeguard and restore the walled garden.

Looking forward to seeing the film Sophia is making!

Kirsty Sutherland

Community groups share £1.7 million Climate Challenge funding

A community project to help Sikh households reduce energy use and carbon emissions is among 26 projects sharing £1.69 million Climate Challenge Funding, Climate Change Minister Aileen McLeod announced today.

Guru Nanak Gurdwara’s Sangat Climate Change Initiative will cut the carbon emissions from the Gurdwara through the installation of energy efficient measures including insulation, LED lighting and secondary glazing. Additional project activities will help households of the Sikh Community in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas to reduce energy use and carbon emissions through home energy advice including multilingual resources. The project has been awarded £144,994.

The Climate Challenge Fund provides financial support for community groups to run projects to tackle climate change and help reduce their community’s carbon footprint.

Climate Change Minister Dr McLeod said: “Climate change impacts on every person on the planet and I know that the projects announced today will make a real and lasting difference at a local level. We all have our part to play in tackling climate change and I welcome the efforts being made by hundreds of communities the length and breadth of Scotland to tackle the impacts of a changing climate within their areas.

“Since the fund was established in 2008, we have invested £66.3 million in 756 community projects. Due to unprecedented demand for support, the fund is now closed to new applications. We will now review the success of the fund and consider how we can continue to support communities and our transition to a low carbon Scotland in future.”

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “Keep Scotland Beautiful has managed the Climate Challenge Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government since the Fund was established in 2008. In that time we are very proud to have supported over 500 community groups across Scotland to take local action on climate change.

“The full allocation of the Climate Challenge Fund shows an appetite from community groups across Scotland to tackle climate change at a local level. We look forward to supporting the latest groups awarded grants and to enabling many more community groups to take climate action in the future. We see it as part of our work to help make Scotland clean, green and more sustainable.”

The full list of CCF funded projects is:

The Leamy Foundation’s Carbon Sprouts project will establish a community growing space at St Mungo’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire. Additional carbon cutting activities include workshops to help the local community reduce food waste and to promote local and seasonal food. £63,649

Guru Nanak Gurdwara’s Sangat Climate Change Initiative will cut the carbon emissions from the Gurdwara through the installation of energy efficient measures including insulation, LED lighting and secondary glazing. Additional project activities will help households of the Sikh Community in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas to reduce energy use and carbon emissions through home energy advice including multilingual resources. £144,994

Glasgow East Women’s Aid’s Let’s Grow! project will establish a safe, community-led allotment where women and children in the East of Glasgow who have experienced domestic abuse can grow fruit and vegetables. As well as reducing local carbon emissions through increased production of local food the project will include workshops to help reduce food waste and to encourage consumption of seasonal and local produce. £30,523

Creetown Initiative Ltd’s Reuse Matters project will offer upcycled alternatives to traditional fashion and home goods in Mid-Galloway and the Machars. In doing this the project will reduce landfill waste and associated carbon emissions. The project will offer a free collection service using an electric vehicle and weekly workshops where the local community can learn how to upcycle items. £50,424

Too Good to Waste is a project run by Greener Kirkcaldy to build awareness, skills and opportunities for the local community to reduce waste by reducing, reusing and repairing. The project will carry out programmes of practical events and workshops in the community, backed up by community-based social marketing activities and engagement with other local community groups. £75,337

Awaz – The Voice of the Community’s Swap Shop and Climate Challenge Programme will help the South Asian community residing in the G41 area of Glasgow to reduce carbon emissions through tackling waste and improving energy efficiency. Monthly project activities include swap shops and a climate challenge programme to increase knowledge of energy efficiency, reducing, reusing and recycling. £52,153

Fyne Homes Ltd’s Energy Action for Tenants: Fyne HEAT project will help their tenants in Bute, Cowal, Mid Argyll and Kintyre to efficiently heat their homes. Tenants will benefit from energy efficiency advice provided by project staff and volunteers to support them to reduce home energy use, bills, carbon emissions and fuel poverty levels. £83,306

Green Feet is a project run by Food Fruition to help communities in Partick, Hyndland and surrounding areas reduce carbon emissions through growing their own food and reducing both food waste and car journeys. A new community growing space will be established at Dyce Park and support will be available to aid home growing and to tackle food waste. Further project activities include a car club and cycle training. £25,608

The St Bryce Kirk Centre in Kirkcaldy will upgrade lighting, insulation and draught-proofing to slash the Centre’s energy consumption and carbon emissions through the Action On Energy project. The project will also offer a series of activities including household energy audits and fuel efficient driver training to help the local community reduce their own energy consumption and carbon emissions. £57,740

The West Lothian Financial Inclusion Network’s Energy Advice Project will support vulnerable groups and those in fuel poverty to reduce bills, energy usage and carbon emissions. Project activities include home energy advice visits, seminars and roadshows in locations including Livingston, Bathgate and Armadale. £34,369

Al-Meezan Ltd’s Climate Change Grow and Recycle project will reduce local carbon emissions associated with food miles and waste being landfilled. A local growing space will be established at the Al-Meezan garden in Glasgow City. Workshops will be offered to support the community growing their own, reducing food waste, composting and recycling. £54,587

Giffnock Recycling Bike and Food Waste Reduction is a project run by local Community Interest Company Big Green Feet in partnership with Giffnock Business Improvement District. The project will collect food waste from local shops, restaurants and cafes by cargo bike instead of lorry and transport it to a new anaerobic digester where it will be converted into compost. The project will also raise community awareness of food waste through Giffnock Business Improvement District events and a marketing programme developed with local shops and restaurants. £54,142

Fyne Futures Ltd will run the Isle of Bute Closed Loop Food Chain project to reduce carbon emissions associated with food miles. The project will create local community growing space, offer home growing training, a pilot food waste collection service and accredited composting training. £37,066

Heart of Scotstoun Ltd’s A Greener Scotstoun project will offer practical learning opportunities and training to help local residents grow their own produce, eat more healthily, reduce food waste and increase recycling efforts. A community garden and polytunnel will be established at Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow with food waste from the cafe providing a local source of compost. £73,600

Dr Spence Memorial Hall Committee’s Udny Energy Efficiency project will install energy efficient measures at Udny Green Hall, in Ellon, Aberdeenshire to reduce energy use, costs and carbon emissions. Further project activities include workshops and home visits to inspire hall users and local households to reduce their own energy use. £150,000

Linktown Community Action Centre’s Philp Hall Energy Challenge project will install energy efficient measures in the Philp Hall Community Centre in Linktown, Kirkcaldy, making the building easier to heat, thus reducing its running costs and carbon emissions. The project will also offer local householders the chance to save energy in their homes through home energy advice visits, an exhibition and workshops with groups that use the Hall. £58,310

Edinburgh World Heritage’s Green Heritage Project Part III will work with local communities both within and outwith the World Heritage Site in Edinburgh to reduce carbon emissions and create a more resilient and educated community with regards to sustainability. The project will also include energy efficiency DIY workshops, a sustainable food project in partnership with the National Library of Scotland, the creation of a Green Map with the University of Edinburgh and a new growing space in Huntly House courtyard. £41,638

Lanarkshire’s Community Climate Challenge is a project run by Lanarkshire Sports Club to reduce local carbon emissions associated with sports related activities. The project will encompass a sports kit and footwear recycling scheme, an eco-friendly bulk laundry system and the promotion of a car share initiative to change people’s travel habits long-term. £89,561

Minority Ethnic Carers of Older People Project (MECOPP) will support informal carers and those with a disability or long-term condition in Edinburgh and the Lothians to adopt a low carbon lifestyle through its Heat of the Moment project. Project activities include home visits and workshops to improve levels of home energy efficiency and recycling and to reduce food waste. As well as reducing carbon emissions and raising awareness of climate change the project aims to help tackle fuel poverty. £78,942

Living Active and Going Green is a project run by Andalus to install energy efficient measures at the Andalus building in the West End of Glasgow to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Measures to be installed include roof insulation, LED lighting and double glazed windows. The project will also offer energy efficiency advice to help local people save energy in the home and will promote use of lower carbon travel to the Andalus building. £98,816

Soulriders Cycling Association Scotland’s community-led Life-Cycle project will promote cycling within the BME community in Greater Glasgow. The project will help the community to reduce their car usage in favour of cycling or car sharing for short journeys, thereby leading to a reduction in carbon emissions. Project activities include cycle safety training, maintenance workshops, route planning assistance and a establishment of a bespoke car sharing scheme. £115,647

Cycling Links is a Recyke-a-bike project run by Fallin Community Enterprises in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire that will work with schools, businesses and the wider community to help lead a shift away from car journeys to lower carbon cycle travel. Project activities include cycle training, bike maintenance classes, bike loan, fun community events and support for schools and employers to work towards ‘Cycle Friendly’ status. £149,063

Mull and Iona Sustainable Transport is a project run by Mull and Iona Community Trust to reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys on the island. The project will establish a lift share system and promote other lower carbon travel options such as a community minibus and cycling, particularly on routes not served by public transport. The project will also work to increase electric car use on the island by converting a vehicle to showcase and loan. £69,833

Small Steps Big Changes is a youth-led project to help young people throughout Tweeddale in the Scottish Borders live a more low carbon life. The youth steering group will be supported by Tweeddale Youth Action. Cycle training and maintenance classes will encourage travel by bike instead of car with bikes previously destined for landfill being reconditioned. Further project activities include a programme of awareness raising events to promote consumption of lower carbon, local and sustainable food. £66,110

RIG Arts Ltd’s Green Screen Scotland project will reduce landfill waste and be led by eco-committees at three Inverclyde primary schools. Pupils will learn how to reduce food waste and how other items previously destined for landfill can be upcycled into art and also create an animation information pack about their activities for other schools in Inverclyde. £45,082

Get Green Group is a youth-led project to reduce local carbon emissions and is supported by Lambhill Stables, a community-owned charity and emerging Development Trust, based in North Glasgow. A community garden and food education activities will promote local, lower carbon food while cycle training and maintenance workshops will encourage a shift towards active travel. The project also aims to reduce waste through reconditioning bikes destined for landfill and making art and jewellery from salvaged materials. £104,224

Pride of place: national award for North Edinburgh Grows

‘inventive, playful, life-enhancing and civil-minded. It is a worthy winner.’ – My Place Award judges

North Edinburgh Arts has won a prestigious national award. The Scottish Civic Trust has recognised the arts centre’s garden project North Edinburgh Grows with the My Place Award 2015 (writes Dave Pickering).

Kate Wimpress, Director at North Edinburgh Arts, and Lachlan Stewart, from Anta Architects who designed the garden, received the award from Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment Marco Biagi MSP at a ceremony at the Lighthouse in Glasgow on Thursday.

The Scottish Civic Trust is the national body for the civic movement in Scotland and the My Place Awards is a unique scheme that celebrates good local design and conservation as nominated and evaluated by local people. The Awards are supported by the Scottish Government.

The My Place Award project category recognises buildings, landscapes, public realm and civic projects that have had a positive impact in local neighbourhoods and delivered tangible benefits to their communities.

Judges said: “The North Edinburgh Grows project is both inspiring and humbling. In the face of many challenges the designers, client and local community have transformed an unloved bit of land into a remarkable resource for local residents and visitors. It is exactly the sort of project which the My Place Awards were set up to acknowledge – inventive, playful, life-enhancing and civil-minded. It is a worthy winner.”

North Edinburgh Arts Director Kate Wimpress was delighted to receive the award on behalf of the project. She said: “NEA and the North Edinburgh Grows team would like to thank all members of the community and local organisations who have contributed so much to the success of the garden.

“This award is a recognition of everybody’s hard work and enthusiasm. If you would like to be involved with the garden please contact Valla, our Community Growing Coordinator, directly at northedinburghgrows@gmail.com“

You can follow the North Edinburgh Grows blog here: northedinburghgrows.wordpress.com

The My Place 2015 Exhibition celebrates Scotland’s places, people, community projects and civic champions. It runs at the Lighthouse until 6th May. For full details about the awards and exhibition go to: www.myplaceawards.org.uk

Letter: No fracking need!

Dear Editor

It would seem the oil extraction companies, finding their vast profits falling, are withdrawing investment. The question now arises: where will they invest their money, and in what?

In America there has been heavy investment in ‘fracking’ to extract gas. This has led to widespread contamination of the water table, with toxic chemicals making it impossible to drink or even use. The recent television programme on the dangers of ‘fracking’ should be shown over and over again to alert people before extraction companies start investing.

There have been some indications that authorities may oppose fracking; presure must be put on them to do so.

As with wind generators, a danger arises in that private land owners will make deals with fracking companies: this must be prohibited.

Fracking is neither needed nor wanted; it poses a potential disaster by polluting our water – all done in the name of making profits for some.

Fracking as a news topic is disturbing by it’s absence: this can only mean ‘Danger Ahead’.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Lazarowicz: ‘Government must listen to people’s call for action’

North & Leith MP supports Earth Hour

Mark Lazarowicz, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, has signed up to support this year’s WWF Earth Hour when millions of people around the world come together to switch off their lights for one hour in a symbolic act of support for action to tackle climate change.

Earth Hour takes place on Saturday 28 March from 8:30 – 9.30pm. You can find more information at www.earthhour.wwf.org.uk/

As part of this year’s Earth Hour, the North & Leith MP pledged to back protection of the world’s forests at a WWF reception in Parliament this week through support for a responsible trade in sustainably-sourced forest products.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “Earth Hour is a clear demonstration of people’s concern around the world about climate change and I am really pleased to see that Edinburgh will be taking part again with the lights at Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish Parliament, the Scott Monument, and Forth Rail Bridge all going out.

“Economic growth can make a real difference to the lives of people around the world but it must be sustainable: that’s why I want to see action on deforestation with businesses and governments making a commitment to responsible trade in wood and paper.

“The world has lost nearly half its forests, and already global demand for wood for timber, paper and fuel is set to triple by 2050.

“The UK is the fifth-largest importer of timber and wood-based products in the world so what we do makes a difference and Government must listen to people’s call for action at Earth Hour.”

Mark Lazarowicz is a member of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) which produced a report in December on agreeing ambitious goals for sustainable development which you can find here. The EAC also produced a report on climate change adaptation which you can find here.

Trade waste bins to be cleared from city streets

Trade waste bins will be removed from Edinburgh’s streets as part of a citywide scheme which will begin rolling out in April. Businesses will no longer be permitted to permanently store their waste containers in public and will be required to present rubbish and recycling during timed collection windows.

The initiative, which aims to improve the appearance of the capital’s streets, has been trialled in a number of city centre locations over the last year. Participating streets Rose Street (and its lanes), Leith Walk and High Street experienced, on average, an 81% drop in the number of bins permanently outside business properties.

Now the policy will be introduced to traders across the city on a phased basis, beginning in April with around 5000 businesses in the city centre. This will be followed by areas like Leith, Southside, Fountainbridge and Portobello.

Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Keeping the city clean and attractive will benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike, and removing unsightly trade waste bins from the streets is one big step towards achieving this.

“It is extremely encouraging to see such positive results from the pilot areas, and there is no doubt the scheme will continue having an impact on our environment as it rolls out across the city.”

After being approved by councillors in October 2013, the Trade Waste pilot was introduced to trial areas between January and March 2014, and has since seen bin numbers reduced from 390 to 103 on Rose Street, 116 to 12 on Leith Walk and 37 to eight on High Street.

Throughout the process, officers have worked with businesses to ensure compliance with collection windows, which were agreed after consultation on suitability, and to address difficulties over storage space, timing and cooperation from trade waste companies.

Gordon Minnis, owner of Rose Street North Lane restaurant Calistoga, is delighted with the impact of the Rose Street trial (before and after, above). He said: “The lane looks a lot smarter with only a dozen or so small bins whereas before there were over 40 large containers. It’s also led to a reduction in litter and fly-tipping.

“Our customers are delighted as they have a much better view when dining and don’t need to navigate their way round large waste containers to get to our restaurant.”

Andrew Watson, owner of the Princes Street franchise of McDonald’s, was also part of the Rose Street lanes trial. He said: “The overall cost of the process is more or less the same as it was before, only now it’s much easier to manage and looks a lot better on the street. My city centre store is in such an iconic location, sitting in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, that keeping the streets around the stores clean and tidy is hugely important to the business.”

As the scheme is rolled out, Environmental Wardens will continue to support behaviour change, helping businesses to adapt and ensuring enforcement, in order to gain the maximum benefit.

Businesses will receive letters to inform them when the changes are being introduced to their area.

Find out more about the Trade Waste pilot on the Council website, including guidance, a map of phase one and more case studies.

Granton’s Walled Garden – update

Hi all,

A quick update to say the deputation to the City Chambers went really well with a decision made to review the outdated ‘minded to grant’ planning permission for the 17 luxury townhouses.

I didn’t expect local councillors to be so surprised by this garden’s existence, age and rarity, or the fact that it was a council arms-length company’s responsibility. Heartening indeed was their decision to review the individual planning application by WEL from 2003, in light of new planning policies meant to protect the Historic Environment and Scotland’s Cultural Heritage. Hopefully this time they will refuse it in recognition of the value of this garden as incredibly rare and valuable heritage greenspace.

STV News wrote a good covering article on our deputation (link below):

plea-to-save-grantons-forgotten-walled-garden-put-to-council

Next meeting

Thursday 12 March

6-7.30pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

Please send in any agenda points you wish discussed.
Hopefully some of you can make this date and time.

Kirsty Sutherland,

Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

PS: Can everyone fill in a membership form if you haven’t done so already, postcode is handy to identify areas support is coming from, full address isn’t needed unless you wish to receive correspondence by post rather than e-mail.

For more information check out Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden on FaceBook

Shedding some light on community concerns

Inverleith councillor Lesley Hinds has asked officers to carry out an urgent appraisal of new street lights following complaints from local residents.

Councillor Hinds chairs the city council’s Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Commitee, which has responsibility for street lighting. She said last night: ““Following a very successful pilot project in 2012, the Council is replacing street lights across the city with new, more energy-efficient and more environmentally friendly lighting. In particular, this will result in brighter and clearer lighting throughout the night.

“A number of residents have been in touch regarding lighting in certain streets and, having now visited them myself, I have asked officers to carry out an appraisal and report back as soon as possible.”

Forth councillor Cammy Day – who is also the city’s community safety ‘champion’ – also discussed ‘some concerns’ with the lighting team yesterday.

Many North Edinburgh residents have expressed anger over the brightness and quality of new ‘eco-lights’ installed across the area over the last week. They believe the lighting makes the streets unsafe and could result in more crime and antisocial behaviour.

However the city council says the lighting project will achieve:

Reduced energy costs. Energy costs are expected to double in the next decade. The use of modern lighting equipment will greatly assist in reducing the impact of increasing energy costs.
Improved environmental performance. This new equipment is more energy efficient and lamps have a longer life span.
Provide continuous lighting throughout the night. A number of local authorities have been switching off lights for periods of time during the night to save energy. The City of Edinburgh Council is not currently considering this option.
Compliance with EU directives.
Brighter and clearer lighting. White lights improve colour recognition and improves images captured on CCTV at night. They also allow clothing colours and car registration numbers to be more easily identified.

The council also cites an October 2012 pilot project undertaken in the Gilmerton and Saughton Mains areas of the city: 271 lights were changed and the results from consultation with local households achieved around 90% satisfaction levels.

Work to start on Foot of the Walk junction

The next phase of the Leith Programme is due to get under way on Monday (16 February), focusing on upgrading the junction at the Foot of the Walk.

Contractors MacLay Civil Engineering Ltd, who are carrying out the project on the Council’s behalf, have begun preparing the site for the works, which are expected to take 15 weeks to complete.

Aimed at simplifying and improving the junction, the redesign will see four improved pedestrian crossings installed at the bottom of Leith Walk, Duke Street, Great Junction Street and Constitution Street.

Once fully operational the junction will allow pedestrians to cross more easily than at present, enhancing the overall accessibility of the area in line with the design principles of the Leith Programme.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “We’ve been delighted with the positive feedback we’ve had on how much the Leith Programme has already transformed the look and feel of Leith Walk and we know residents and businesses are keen to see the Foot of the Walk brought up to a similar standard.

“As always, every effort will be made to keep noise and disruption to an absolute minimum and we appreciate the public’s patience while this next phase of work is carried out.”

Traffic management arrangements have been drawn up in order to minimise disruption to traffic flow as far as possible. Constitution Street will be closed at its junction with Leith Walk for the duration of the works and local access to this area will be via Laurie Street, Queen Charlotte Street or Bernard Street.

Meanwhile, three-way temporary traffic lights will be in operation at the main Leith Walk junction to control traffic flow.

For details of the most up to date information regarding any bus diversions and traffic conditions affecting Leith Walk, members of the public are advised to keep an eye on Lothian Buses’ website or Twitter account as well as @edintravel.