Please see the attached PDF or the full text after the ‘read more’ cut.
In summary we consider that the consultation is a missed opportunity to understand the views of residents and explain the reasons for the proposed waste collection arrangements. We remain willing to work with the Council to address these deficiencies.
Please see the attached PDF, or the full text after the ‘read ore’ cut.
NTBCC Response To Draft Planning Guidance Documents
NTBCC has two general points for consideration.
- There is a need for greater consistency regarding decision-making on planning matters generally. At times decisions appear to be contradictory or are otherwise inexplicable. The Council should have in place systems that can provide internally and externally assurance that decisions have the necessary degree of consistency.
- There should be a tighter enforcement regime. The Council should review its approach to enforcement regarding planning decisions to provide reassurance that owners and developers are not able to disregard regulations and guidance without any consequences.
This article in the Herald (paywall) on 16 March 2025 covers the failure of Old Town CC to attract enough candidates — but more generally covers about the problems of community councils in Edinburgh as a whole.
The article quotes Professor Oliver Escobar at length:
Citizens have the capacity to be whatever you offer them to be. If what you are offering them to be is complainers, protestors, reactionaries, blockers, that’s what they will be. If you offer them to be problem solvers, collaborators, coproducers, thinkers that’s what they will be.
It was never meant to be just about supporting or blocking planning processes; it was meant to be a channel for communities to express themselves, to connect with local authorities in a meaningful way, to have representation that was not based in party politics but in community priorities.
In total, 8 of Edinburgh’s 47 community council areas (Craigmillar, Davidson’s Mains and Silverknowes, Firrhill, Hutchison/Chesser, Muirhouse/Salvesen, Old Town, Portobello, West Pilton/West Granton) are in this situation. So that’s 17% of Edinburgh’s hyperlocal democracy units that currently do not exist.
Adapted from a Licensing Board communication received by the New Town & Broughton Community Council, inviting the public to comment on whether the whole of the City of Edinburgh Council’s area should be overprovided, whether specific localities be overprovided, or whether there should be no overprovision localities in its area.
Closing date for online submissions: 4 May 2025.
Should you wish to share your views/concerns with NTBCC, please contact us by email to licensing@ntbcc.org.uk
Full details can be found here: Statement of Licensing Policy – Assessment of Overprovision – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space
NB: The current (2018) Assessment of Overprovision as set out in Chapter 14 and Appendix 2 of the Board’s new Statement of Licensing Policy (published 27 November 2023) continues to form part of the Board’s Statement of Licensing Policy meanwhile.
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 547867 2-6 Calton Road (ex- Bunker Bar; ex- Pivo Bar), EH8 8DL
to provide that the premises may open from 8am;
to amend On Sale hours to 10am-1am Monday to Saturday and 11am-1am on Sunday;
to add Off Sales;
to delete Dance facilities;
to reduce capacity to 88.
As related to Planning application 25/00208/FUL | Change of Use of lower floor from entertainment venue (class 11) to light industrial (class 4) (as amended) | 2 – 6 Calton Road Edinburgh EH8 8DL that was granted on 13 March 2025.
Edinburgh planning: Plans lodged to turn former Bunker Bar at Calton Road into a new artisan micro-distillery
Variation 547621 109 Hanover Street (Chez Jules Bistro), EH2 1DJ
to substitute an amended Layout Plan to show two additional Outside Areas as part of the licensed premises.
Variation 547826 192 Rose Street (Wildfire Restaurant), EH2 4AZ
includes to amend On Sale & Off Sale opening hours to 11am Monday to Sunday;
to add Seasonal Variations;
to add Outdoor Drinking until 10pm.
Variation 547853 194a Rose Street (Robert Graham 1874 Whisky & Cigars), EH2 4AZ
to include within the licensed area the premises at 196 Rose Street (ex- Mail Boxes Etc.) and
connect them to the current operation at 194a Rose Street;
to add On Sales;
to add an on sale capacity of 59 (Internal seating 35 covers, external seating 24 covers);
to increase the off sale capacity to 62.6 linear metres;
to substitute a new Layout Plan showing the addition of 196 Rose Street to the licensed area and the
increase in alcohol display.
As related to Planning application 25/00985/FUL | Internal alterations, combining of both premises (194-196) and change of use for 196 Rose Street from (shop Class 1) to public house (Sui-Generis). | 194A & 196 Rose Street New Town Edinburgh EH2 4AZ which is open for comments until 4 April 2025.
Two Edinburgh city centre shops to be transformed into new pub under Rose Street plans
Any comments/objections should be lodged in writing by 10/4/2025 (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
We have recently received an email from the Council following the representations that we and others had made regarding the extended operating period that had been proposed for The Big Wheel in Princes Gardens. The following is an extract from that email.
Thank you for responding and providing feedback on the application to host a Big Wheel in East Princes Street Gardens this summer.
The engagement stage of the process has now closed and having considered feedback from all our internal and external stakeholders, we have agreed that this application should not proceed.
Please share this information with your own networks as required.
Clearly it shows that at least on some occasions, it is worth providing timely comments. Thanks to everyone that did so.
Notes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held via Zoom, on Monday 17 February 2025 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.