NTBCC full agenda Monday 11 November 2024 and conveners’ reports received so far

This will be an online meeting: Monday 11 November at 7pm, via Zoom using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89896874952

The bracketed information shows the time allocated to each item.

Convenors’ reports will be added below the agenda as they are received.

    1. Welcome and apologies (5 minutes)
    2. Approval of minutes of October 2024 meeting and matters arising (5 minutes)
      1. PDF of draft minutes: 2024_10_14 draft V6
      2. matters arising from October meeting
Item Actor Action
4.b Cllr Mitchell Try to find a deputation to CEC planning about the impact of bollards conservation areas
4.b M Birch/P Williamson Compile a list of specific actions about the EWHT issues
4.d P Williamson Write an article for The Spurtle on the forthcoming CC elections
6.b Cllr Caldwell Share information on changes to STL licensing when possible
7.a R Price Put form relevant to amended RBS application on NTBCC website
  1. Chair’s report (5 minutes)
    1. Edinburgh World Heritage Site Management Plan Update
    2. Community Council Elections and Governance Update
  2. Planning (30 minutes)
    1. Presentation: Amended plans for the RBS site (24/04542/PAN) Ediston / Turley 
  3. Culture and communities matters (30 minutes)
    1. Presentation: Update on the George St and First New Town Project: problems, challenges and solutions – Jamie Robertson, CEC
    2. Report on Walkabout (First New Town) – (to discuss)
    3. Visitor Levy Consultation (closes 15.12.24) – to note/discuss
    4. Edinburgh Future Libraries Consultation (closes 18.12.24) – to note/discuss
  4. Planning matters continued (10 minutes)
    1. 24/05018/FUL Installation of BT Street Hub & removal of 4 kiosks on Dundas Street (to discuss)
    2. 24/05030/FUL Alterations / new /reinstated openings 25 Carlton Terrace Mews (to discuss)
    3. 24/04750/FUL 30-31 Princes St: Change of use of retail space to hotel use (to note)
    4. Other applications being assessed: Christmas Markets / ESF / McDonald Place (to note)
  5. Licensing matters (15 minutes)
    1. STL Evidence Session with Regulatory Committee (to note)
    2. Licensing Board/Forum meeting about Overprovision (to note)
    3. Unlawful use of unlicensed HMOs for homeless accommodation (to note)
    4. Current Applications including:
      1. Alcohol licensing – Variation 537555 for ESF outside the Omni, related to Planning 24/03724/FUL approved 6/11/24
      2. Civic licensing – STL 538256 at 10a Blenheim Place (EH7 5JH)
      3. Civic licensing – LHC ?????? at 6 Picardy Place (EH1 3JT)
      4. Civic licensing – HMO ?????? at 39-47 Albany Street (EH1 3QY)
  6. Transport and environment matters (10 minutes)
    1. Visit to Recycling Centre Report (to note)
    2. Transport & Environment Committee Meeting (18.11.24) Agenda (to note)
      1. Communal Bin Review
      2. Street Cleaning Petition
  7. Any other business (10 minutes)

Continue reading

Edinburgh Oktoberfest – West Princes Street Gardens

We have been reminded by  City of Edinburgh Council that the annual Oktoberfest event will be taking place on the hard standing area in West Princes Street Gardens next week.

It will be on site from the 30th September, opening on 3rd October until the 6th and offsite on 7th October.

Should you have any questions, please contact park.events@edinburgh.gov.uk

Urgent Repair Work – Princes Street

Extract from email received from Scottish Water.

I am writing to let you know about works on Princes Street in Edinburgh following an issue with a manhole at its junction with Frederick Street.

We are now about to begin our repair, with work expected to start on Monday 16 September 2024 for up to five days.

In the meantime, Princes Street has been reduced to one lane and Frederick Street closed from Princes Street to Rose Street.

Diversions are in place for buses and taxis while tram services are unaffected.

We would like to thank everyone affected for their patience and understanding.

NTBCC Objects to City Centre Traffic Regulation Order

The NTBCC has reiterated its concerns about the continued restrictions to buses and taxis using Waverley Bridge resulting in their relocation to other streets in the City Centre. The decision to relocate buses and taxis from Waverley Bridge was taken as part of the Spaces for People measures introduced over four years ago during the pandemic. The Council has published an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order in order to retain these changes. Today is the last date for comments to be submitted to TRO.Consultations@edinburgh.gov.uk.

The principal concerns we have raised in our objection are the adverse impact on disabled and other passengers with mobility issues, the additional congestion along Waterloo Place and the western end of Regent Road caused by the out of town and tour buses now using these streets and the problems for pedestrians and wheelers as a result of so many buses using so few bus stops along with the narrow pavements.

We recognise that any plans for Waverley Bridge do need to provide a safe means for pedestrians (including passengers) to access the station and move from Princes Street to the Old Town. This, we believe, can be achieved without closing the road to all buses and taxis.


NTBCC’s objection is in this PDF.

NTBCC ordinary meeting minutes 13 May 2024

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s meeting, online via Zoom, on Monday 13 May 2024 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

NTBCC’s objection to RSO/21/08 and TRO/21/32

NTBCC’s transport convenor today emailed the following objection to these TROs which – if passed – would enable the ‘Meadows to George St’ plans.


Dear Traffic Orders Team

Objection to RSO/21/08 and TRO/21/32

The New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) has considered the above traffic orders and wishes to object to them for the following reasons:

  1. Hanover Street

It is proposed to introduce two one-way cycle lanes on either side of this street between George Street and Princes Street. It was stated that the use of two one-way cycle lanes was to align with the design of George Street but at a George Street and First New Town project briefing last year we were told that the design of Hanover Street had been set by the Meadows to George Street Project. Given the stated intent to introduce consistency in the design of public realm, it would appear that a two way cycle path would reduce pedestrian/cyclist interactions, remove the need for floating bus stops on one side of the street and allow more space to be retained/created for pedestrians.

Given that in the plans there is no route for south bound vehicles (other than buses, taxis, cycles and other traffic wanting to access Market Street) beyond Princes Street, Hanover Street is essentially a dead end for most traffic and therefore the need for traffic to turn around would seem to be an important but overlooked consideration. With the narrowing of the carriageway this will become much more difficult especially for larger commercial vehicles raising serious traffic management and road safety considerations. It is also proposed to reduce the number of bus stops on the street which given the number of services that are using this road will be a counterproductive measure in that it will increase congestion around bus stops. Continue reading

Licensing Board – Applications in NTBCC’s Area : 15 May 2024

Adapted from a Licensing Board notification received by the New Town & Broughton Community Council of new alcohol licensing application(s) within NTBCC’s area.

Should you wish to share your views/concerns with NTBCC, please contact us by email to licensing@ntbcc.org.uk 


Please find below the following application(s) due to be heard at the meeting of the Licensing Board (dates to be confirmed) which are located in your Community Council area.

Variation      522794      18-20 Greenside Place (Playhouse Theatre), EH1 3AA
as related to Planning applications 23/07232/FUL | External alterations (as amended). | Playhouse Theatre 18 – 20 Greenside Place Greenside Edinburgh EH1 3AA that was granted on 16 April 2024, to integrate neighbouring unit (ex- Café Habana) into licensed footprint of Playhouse Theatre; and increase occupancy capacity from 3047 to 3213.
The new ‘LITTLE picardy BAR + CAFE’ may open from 8am for the provision of teas, coffees, breakfasts etc.

Variation and Transfer      527260      7-15 Rose Street (ex- FOPP Music), EH2 2PR
to vary and transfer the previously granted (but not never exercised) premises licence from MOJO Bar to Pizza Pilgrims.

Provisional    527771      133 Princes Street (ex- EE Mobile), EH2 4AH
for new Day-Today convenience store.

Provisional    525855      28 Rose Street (split unit from ex- British Home Stores at 64 Princes Street), EH2 2QA
as related to Planning applications 22/02817/FUL | Change of use from Class 1 (shops) and Class 3 (food and drink) to Class 3 (food and drink) and public house (Sui Generis), external and internal alterations, and associated works. | 28 Rose Street Edinburgh EH2 2QA that was granted on 8 December 2022,
and 24/01682/S50 | Request for a Planning Section 50 Certificate (Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005) | 28 Rose Street New Town Edinburgh EH2 2QA that was granted on 8 April 2024.
Previously earmarked as Tonight Josephine,
the premises are now proposed as Manahatta instead.

Any comments/objections should be lodged in writing by 06/06/2024 (please note we recommend forwarding representations by e-mail to licensing@edinburgh.gov.uk).

Full details of the applications can be found here: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/13426/alcohol-licence-registers