Culture and communities

by

Improving Charlotte Square Project – NTBCC issues detailed comments

Attached is a document which sets out the concerns of the New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) about the Improving Charlotte Square project.

While supporting the intent to improve accessibility and provide a link with the existing CCWEL infrastructure, we believe that the current design raises a number of significant issues which require further consideration prior to the project proceeding. Our primary concerns are:

  1. Unclear Project Needs and Goals: We question the overall purpose of the project beyond enhancing cycling infrastructure. We believe that additional clarity is required on the specific outcomes with a detailed cost breakdown to ensure value for Edinburgh’s residents.
  2. Insufficient Community Engagement: We are concerned at the limited community engagement in the decision-making process and call for wider consultation before the project is further progressed.
  3. Limited Design Options: We advocate for exploring a cycling route on the south side of Charlotte Square to mitigate potential conflicts and reduce costs.
  4. Pedestrian Safety: We question the design and location of the pedestrian crossings especially the non-signalised crossing on the south side of Charlotte Square, which raises significant safety concerns.
  5. Heritage Considerations: We believe that there are good reasons for restoring the setted road surface where possible to enhance the heritage value of the square, rather than opting for tarmac.
  6. Project and Funding Prioritization: We are concerned that this project is being prioritised over others in the City Mobility Plan and question the validity of its ranking and anticipated impact on public realm.
  7. Scope and Impact on Related Projects: We consider that the impact on tourist coach parking and overall traffic management in light of future projects both need to be thoroughly reconsidered.
by

NTBCC ordinary meeting minutes 10 November 2025

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held in the Garden Room at Broughton St Mary’s Church, on Monday 10 November 2025 at 7pm

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

by

NTBCC full agenda Monday 8 December 2025 and conveners’ reports received so far

The next NTBCC public meeting will held be on Monday 8 December, 7pm to 9pm. It will be an an online meeting via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86742850648?pwd=n4TsHf11gu2GESKTGhTV35tSnWvE2N.1

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

  1. Welcome and apologies
  2. Declarations of interest
  3. Approval of draft November minutes and matters arising
  4. Chair’s report
    1. NTBCC membership update
  5. Planning matters
    1. Current applications/issues
      1. Former RBS site Dundas St (25/01899/FUL) – DMSC hearing on 17 December (to discuss)
      2. City Plan 2040 & current consultation ‘What Makes a Good Space ?‘ – closes 23 January 2026 (to discuss)
    2. Recent decisions
      1. 57 Henderson Row (Royal London : CoU from Offices to Residential) (to note)
    3. Pending Applications
      1. 11 Royal Terrace (25/05233/FUL) (to note)
      2. 14-15 Claremont Crescent (25/5228/FUL) (to note)
      3. 7 Baxter’s Place (25/05562/FUL) (to note)
    4. Revised Scheme of Delegation for planning applications – update
    5. Powderhall redevelopment – summary for information
  6. Licensing matters
    1. Regulatory review of Sun Tan Centres licensing conditions – Consultation (to note)
  7. Culture and Communities matters
    1. Early Update Council’s Culture and Communities Committee meeting on 4 December
    2. Community Council Elections 2025 – Survey Results
    3. Misuse of Quad Bikes and Dirt Bikes in Public Space
    4. Use of Public Spaces for Events – Annual Update
    5. Motion by Councillor McFarlane – Grant Funding for ‘Friends of’ and Trusts
  8. Transport and Environment matters
    1. Charlotte Square – comments provided to CEC project manager (to note)
    2. North-south trams consultation – NTBCC response (to note)
    3. TEC deputations – TRO subcommittee review and supported bus services (to note)
    4. St Marks Park path closure (to discuss)
    5. CBR Phase 6 – outcome of meeting with CEC staff (to discuss)
    6. Graffiti – website post and follow-up actions (to discuss)
  9. Engagement
    1. Report on planned engagement activity for 2026
  10. Any other business

2025_12_18 Transport and Environment convenor’s report

by

‘Statutory’ agenda for NTBCC meeting on Monday 8 December 2025

The next NTBCC public meeting will held be on Monday 8 December, 7pm to 9pm. It will be an online meeting via Zoom.

The detailed agenda for this meeting will be published in due course, but for now here is the ‘statutory’/framework agenda.

Ordinary meeting

    1. Welcome, introductions and apologies
    2. Approval of draft November minutes
    3. Matters arising
    4. Planning
    5. Culture & Communities
    6. Licensing
    7. Transport & Environment
    8. Councillors’ reports
    9. Open forum (for residents to raise any concerns)
    10. AOCB

As always, members of the public are very welcome to attend this meeting and indeed future meetings (whether in-person or virtual).

Any member of the public who would like to raise an issue in the interim can use the contact form on this website or send us a message via @NTBCC on Twitter and we will respond as soon as we can.

by

Reporting Graffiti

There have been a number of questions recently about incidents of graffiti in our area. The Council’s policy is to remove graffiti from Council property within 10 days unless it is offensive in which case it should be removed within 24 hours.

Residents are encouraged to report grafitti on Council property at edinburgh.gov.uk/graffiti. The Council teams can clear tagging from:

  • Bins and food waste bin cases
  • Bus stops
  • Lamp-posts
  • Bicycle storage hangars
  • Parks’ equipment and walls
  • Schools’ equipment and walls
  • Council-owned buildings and houses

The responsibility for removing graffiti on private property is with the owner of that property, although the Council may be able to assist especially if the graffiti is offensive. Private property includes street furniture owned by utility companies. You will need to contact the relevant utility company to report graffiti. The following are some contact details that may be helpful.

BT/Open Reach Cabinets and other equipment  – you can call 0800 023 2023 and select option 1 or alternatively access their help page at https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/damage-health-and-safety

Post Boxes  – you can email Royal Mail at postbox.appearance@royalmailpfs.com. providing the specific address of the post box and if possible the post box number which should be shown on the collection times plate as well as a photograph of the graffiti.

Railway stations, bridges and land beside railways – you can contact Network Rail at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/living-by-the-railway/graffiti-removal/ 

If you find that reported graffiti in our area is not removed promptly, please get in contact with us at https://www.ntbcc.org.uk/contact/ 

by

Supported Bus Services – NTBCC Deputation

A report on Supported Bus Services was presented at the Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) meeting today including a lessons learned report on the procurement exercise conducted last year. We were disappointed that although the lack of community engagement was one of the primary reasons that the report was commissioned, there had been no contact with us or other community councils by the consultant conducting the lessons learned exercise. We therefore submitted a written deputation to the committee to register our disappointment and also to highlight a couple of other issues that we thought should be considered. A copy of that deputation can be accessed through the following link:

NTBCC Deputation to TEC (Supported Bus Services)

If you have any feedback on how the number 13 bus service is operating since it was taken over by the new operator last December, please let us know using the contact form on our website.

by

NTBCC full agenda Monday 10 November 2025 and conveners’ reports received so far

The next NTBCC public meeting will held be on Monday 10 November, 7pm to 9pm. It will be an an in-person meeting at Broughton St Mary’s Church (12 Bellevue Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 6NE)

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

  1. Welcome and apologies
  2. Declarations of interest
  3. Approval of October meeting minutes and matters arising
  4. Chair’s report
    1. New Member – Andrew Naughtie
    2. Dunard Centre
    3. NTBCC Public Drop-in Sessions
    4. NTBCC Engagement With CEC Officials
    5. Ongoing issues raised by local resident and how best to resolve them
  5. Planning matters
    1. 14 – 15 Claremont Crescent – switch from residential to serviced appartments (25/05228/FUL)
    2. 11 Royal Terrace – outdoor wellness  area / sauna etc. (25/05233/FUL)
    3. Former RBS site Dundas St. – reopened for comments (25/01899/FUL) & City Plan 2040 & current consultation
    4. Recent Decisions
      1. EPSG Christmas
      2. Rose Street Theatre
      3. Royal London – Thistle St
    5. Planning Committee
      1. Revised Scheme of delegation
      2. Draft Princes Street & Waverley Valley Strategy
  6. Licensing matters
  7. Culture and Communities matters
  8. Transport and Environment matters
    1. Charlotte Square  – report of meeting with CEC project manager and next steps (discuss)
    2. George Street Cross Streets  – report of meeting with CEC project manager and next steps (discuss)
    3. Picardy Place  – report on meetings with Essential Edinburgh and CEC (note)
    4. North South Trams Consultation  – agree NTBCC response (discuss)
    5. CBR Phase 6  – update on planned meeting with CEC staff (note)
  9. Any other business

Convenors’ and other reports

Transport and Environment Committee Report 

Responses to questions about Charlotte Square Project