Original PDF: NTBCC Engagement Report 2022-06-11
The following has been extracted from the City Centre Community Policing Team Newsletter sent to the New Town & Broughton Community Council covering the previous month up until 9th June .
Although we have made comments on the timeliness of the content of these communications, we appreciate receiving these regular updates from the City Centre Community Policing Team based at the West End Police Station.
The following extracts from the full newsletter may be of interest. We are hoping that we have a Police Scotland Community officer present in person at our next in-person NTBCC meeting on 13th June.
Looking Back
This month has seen a continuation of the work of the “Tyre extinguishers” in the New Town and beyond, details are being noted in relation to either breach of the peace or culpable and reckless conduct dependant on the nature of the incident. It is very hard to pinpoint who is doing this as it seems likely to be a number of individuals working towards a common goal. Most of the areas they target are away from CCTV however some of the leaflets left on the vehicles have been sent for forensic analysis. Please continue to be vigilant to those intent on letting down tyres on SUV style vehicles who seem to be doing so in the hours of darkness. Also, please ensure your vehicle, tyres in particular are correctly inflated before driving to minimise any risks to yourself and others.
On a similar environmental theme, a large window was smashed at Barclays bank on Princes Street by an extinction rebellion activist, part of a series of vandalism in Glasgow and Aberdeen, a female has been charged and reported for this incident. Barclays is a target due to its record in investment in fossil fuels.
What We’re Noticing
There have been a spate of vehicle thefts in the New Town. A Landrover was stolen opposite Broughton St Marys Parish church and a motor bike was stolen in the early evening at Fettes Row which has since been recovered thanks to a tracker installed by the owner.
A further motor bike was stolen by three males with balaclavas on George Street. Two of the males were on scooters and the third male drove off on the bike around midnight on George Street, a person has since been identified for this theft.
There was just one break in to a domestic premises on Great King Street where a male has climbed in an open window and then fled when confronted by the occupier but not before they have managed to steal some small electrical goods. The housebreaking enquiry team have a suspect in mind for this crime. We have been giving attention to areas where we still receive complaints re speeding in the 20mph roads of the New Town with several drivers warned and tickets issues to those travelling at excessive speed. One of these offenders was the driver of a private hire car and he has been reported to the CAB office, a joint police/council department who monitor drivers issued with taxi licenses. As this limit has been in place for several years there is really no excuse for us not to all be aware and follow the 20’s plenty.
Looking Forward
The City Centre continues to get busier now that restrictions have been removed. Resources are already being put in place for Operation Summer City when the festival returns. Officers from divisions out with Edinburgh will be amongst the additional officers being deployed. This will extensively boost the amount of officers that are within the city centre at any one time to ensure that tourists and residents alike can enjoy the festival safely.
If there are any issues which we feel you should know about, we will of course update you in the forthcoming newsletters, but if there is anything you would like us to address, or crime prevention information you would like us to provide, please let us know and we will tailor the content accordingly.
City Centre Community Policing Team
The full newsletter will be discussed at the June NTBCC meeting and included in the meeting minutes.
This is our first in-person meeting for over 2 years. Members of the public are very welcome to attend this meeting either in-person or via Zoom – there are two Eventbrite links:
In order to know numbers, we’re asking everyone including community councillors to register. Registration via either link covers both the AGM and the ordinary meeting that will immediately follow it.
For the first time in over 2 years, NTBCC’s June meeting will be an ‘in-person’ event in the main sanctuary of Broughton St Mary’s Church on Bellevue Crescent.
This will start with the Annual General meeting (AGM), immediately followed by our normal June meeting.
We have been exploring options for holding for hybrid meetings and now believe that with the new facilities available in Broughton St Mary’s , we are more confident of being able to successfully hold a hybrid meeting but with the focus on it being an in-person event.
The full agenda for the AGM and June meeting will be published soon on our website, www.ntbcc.org.uk/meetings/
We look forward to as many residents as possible joining us for this as well as local councillors – both those newly-elected or those who have been re-elected folllowing the 5 May Council elections.
CEC has now responded to NTBCC’s submission on the latest plans for George Street, as follows:
New Town and Broughton Community Council
c/o Simon Holledge
By email
31st May 2022
Dear Simon
George Street and First New Town (GNT) Public Realm Proposals
The Council note and welcome the recent comments received from the New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) regarding the public realm plans for George Street and the First New Town (GNT).
NTBCC has been one of the key stakeholders over the years through the development of the proposals for George Street. The Council recognises that the views and comments raised by NTBCC are critical in shaping final proposals for the area and ensuring that the project is a success in terms of enhancing George Street and the First New Town as a place to live, work and visit. As the Council has stated, collaboration is key to the success of the GNT project and we will continue to work with NTBCC as final project proposals are developed.
The Council’s response to the main items raised by the NTBCC are detailed below.
Equality Impact Assessment
An initial Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA), which allows the Council to meet its legal obligations in relation to equality, socio-economic disadvantage, climate change, sustainability, the environment and human rights for the GNT project, was produced in May 2019 and was updated in March 2020. During this current design stage of the project the IIA will be reviewed once more to reflect current designs but more importantly operational plans for the area which are due to be finalised by autumn this year. Working in partnership with key stakeholders, especially those representing disabled and mobility impaired groups, we will continue to review the project IIA as the delivery of the project moves forward.
Continuous engagement and consultation have taken place on the GNT project from the outset and the Council will continue to adopt a collaborative approach in developing final proposals. Groups including Edinburgh Access Panel have been closely involved and a specific session was recently organised with them relating to the current Stage 3 proposals.
Travel
In line with the Council’s City Mobility Plan, City Centre Transformation Plan (CCT) and Climate Emergency, a key objective of the George Street project is to make it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle as well as provide better access to public transportation. With regards to people with mobility issues or disabilities, we will remove as much street clutter as possible, improve junctions, introduce seating areas, and significantly widen footpaths. This will all help to enhance the experience for everyone who wants to access and enjoy the street.
Local media as well as national media has recently covered the introduction of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in major Scottish cities – Edinburgh along with Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow.
The following is adapted from an email sent to the New Town & Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) on 2 June stating that final approval by Scottish Ministers for the proposed LEZ in Edinburgh was given on 19 May. The email confirms that the proposal, as agreed at the Council’s 31 March 2022 Transport & Environment Committee, has now been approved by Scottish Ministers and came into force on 31 May 2022 – with enforcement from 1 June 2024.
NTBCC had again raised several concerns with the proposal during the final Council consultation e.g. the limited scope of the LEZ in Edinburgh, its adverse impact on residents living outside the area covered by the LEZ and the lack of effective enforcement plans. However, despite these concerns, shared by many other groups, the proposed scheme was approved at the 31 March Transport & Environment Committee without any changes from the initial proposal.
We are also unclear how this proposal will contribute to reductions in emissions to ensure compliance with the Scottish Government’s climate change objectives, specifically for carbon dioxide (CO2) – as stated below.
The specific detail of the approved Low Emission Zone can be viewed on the Council’s website here .
Actions and decisions are red italic. ‘TT’ means ‘Trams Team’. Names are mostly abbreviated to initials. Continue reading