First New Town

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NTBCC submits deputation to Council regarding planned delays to work on “Cross Streets” in George Street Project

The New Town and Broughton Community Council has submitted a written deputation to the  Council’s Transport and  Environment Committee meeting on Thursday highlighting the consequences for residents, bus users and the disabled of the plan to defer work on the Frederick, Hanover and Castle Streets (the Cross Streets) which has previously been an integral part of the George Street and First New Town Project. The following is an extract from that deputation but the full document is attached below along with a link to a drawing from the approved Operational Plan for George Street showing the planned location on the Cross Streets of bus stops, taxi ranks and parking.

“Deputation to the Transport and Environment Committee Meeting on 22 May 2025 regarding item 7.5 City Mobility Plan – Capital Investment Plan Prioritisation

The New Town and Broughton Community Council supports the rigorous approach taken in this report to prioritise the various planned activities in support of the City Mobility Plan but has serious concerns about the separation of the planned work on the ‘Cross Streets’ from the main George Street and First New Town project.

This is not rational as the plans to remove vehicular traffic from George Street are dependent on the work on the Cross Streets. In particular, the relocation of bus services, restriction of disabled parking and removal of resident parking from George Street that is contained within the latest Operational Plan for George Street (see attached drawing from June 2023 report to this committee) is reliant on suitable alternative infrastructure being in place on the Cross Streets to allow both the planned construction work to redevelop George Street to commence and its future operation largely without vehicles.

We have been involved with the plans for George Street and the First New Town over many years. In all the presentations we have attended and in previous reports to this committee, the work on the Cross Streets has been seen as an integral part of the overall project.

We believe that the planned work on the Cross Streets is an essential and integral element of the overall project rather than an optional extra that can be delayed to accommodate funding restrictions. If there is a need to phase the projects, the Cross Streets work should come first to enable the future redevelopment of George Street and address immediate issues with the condition of these streets.

 

Mike Birch

Transport and Environment Convenor – NTBCC

Full NTBCC Deputation

NTBCC Deputation Attachment

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First New Town Walkabout Observations

Four NTBCC Community Councillors and two members of the public undertook a planned walk along certain streets of the First New Town following the route shown in the map below on Monday 28 October 2024.

We identified a number of issues worthy of note and further action including:

  1. Commercial Waste
  2. Condition of Setted Roads
  3. Charlotte Square Active Travel Measures
  4. Continuous Footpaths without Tactile Paving
  5. Condition and Appearance of Rose Street
  6. Graffiti

The following photographs give an indication of what we saw but the attached report  (Notes from NTBCC Walkabout (FNT)) provides details and more photographs of what we found and the areas where we believe further follow up is required. This report has been shared with our local Councillors and others.

 

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Walkabout in the First New Town

As previously announced, next Monday, 28 October, we will be holding a Walkabout — this time in the First New Town — starting at 14.00.

A map of the route is below. Starting from St Andrew Square we will take Thistle, Hill and Young Streets to Charlotte Square and return via Rose Street (anti-clockwise).
Lasting about 90 minutes, we will be checking for litter, waste bins, fly tipping, graffiti, blocked drains, poorly repaired roads, pavements, pedestrian crossings, potholes, depleted greenery, footway obstructions, planning anomalies and anything else you may find notable.
All are welcome — see you next Monday!

 

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NTBCC ordinary meeting minutes 13 November 2023

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, on Zoom, on Monday 13 November 2023 at 7pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. ND (‘no dissent’) means that no-one spoke or voted against a decision.

URLs have been added by the minutes secretary. Continue reading →

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NTBCC full agenda Monday 13 November 2023 and convenor reports received so far

This will be an online meeting on Monday 13 November 2023 via Zoom (link) at 7pm. We’ll open the meeting at 6:45 so we can start promptly.

To access the meeting, please use the Zoom link here.

  1. Admin and welcome
  2. Approval of the minutes of the ordinary NTBCC meeting held on 9 October 2023, and matters arising (To approve/discuss)
  3. Police report (if received) (To note/discuss)
  4. Chair’s update
  5. Licensing (convener’s report)
    • Short Term Let Licensing scheme – Home Letting vs Secondary Letting (To discuss)
    • Alcohol Licensing
      • New draft policy statement and consultation (To note)
      • Police annual report 2022-2023 (To note)
    • Street trading and market operators consultation (To note)
    • SEV licensing – CEC regulatory committee evidence session on 27 Oct (To note)
  6. Planning (convener’s report)
    • Concerns over planning (class use/enforcement) and licensing for cafés
    • Update on STL planning applications and licensing register
    • Proposed development in the Canon Court aparthotel car-park (23/06328/FUL)
    • Broughton Market (23/06502/FUL)  Change of use from office accommodation to serviced apartments
    • Edinburgh Council’s conservation and adaption initiative
  7. Transport (convener’s report)
    • George Street and the First New Town project (update on side streets)
    • Travelling Safely update (including Waverley Station masterplan/Waterloo Place bus trial)
    • Response to HES consultation regarding Holyrood Park
    • Report on outcome of Hardie Inquiry
    • Updates: Trams project, East London Street and LEZ
  8. Environment (convener’s report)
  9. Culture and Communities (convener’s report)
    • Presentation/discussion on Edinburgh Council’s community council review
      (There were no relevant items arising from this cycle of CEC committee meetings.)
  10. AOCB, including news from residents’ associations, and points raised by members of the public.

Please note: before or during the meeting, names and email addresses may be recorded. Email addresses are held and used for circulating information about NTBCC but may also be used to seek residents’ views on local issues.

Continue reading →

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NTBCC minutes Monday 8 March 2021

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held via Zoom, on Monday 8 March 2021 at 7pm

Actions and decisions are red italic. ND (‘no dissent’) means that no-one spoke or voted against a decision.

Edinburgh Council has stated that ‘CCs can approve minutes, and take other decisions, remotely’, as so long as they ensure that ‘remote meetings are as accessible to members of the public and (as) well-advertised as possible’. Continue reading →

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NTBCC minutes – Monday 8 February 2021

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held via Zoom, on Monday 8 February 2021 at 7pm Continue reading →