consultations

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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.
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NTBCC joins Living Streets and Edinburgh Access Panel in objecting to changes to Rose Street

The New Town and Broughton Community Council has joined Living Streets Edinburgh Group and the Edinburgh Access Panel in issuing a statement regarding the introduction of two-way cycling along Rose Street.

Earlier in the year, all three groups submitted objections to the Council’s plans to implement an exemption to allow contraflow cycling along Rose Street which is a one-way street and largely pedestrianised. The objections were focussed on pedestrian safety and the unsuitability of Rose Street as a cycling route in the city centre. We have reiterated these concerns in our joint statement and highlighted inconsistencies in the report that will be presented to the Traffic Regulation Orders Sub-Committee at their meeting next Tuesday. The full text of our statement which has been sent to all City of Edinburgh Councillors can be found below:

Joint Statement on One Way Streets Exemptions for Cyclists (Final)

As we note in our statement, Rose Street is the nearest we have to a pedestrianised area in Edinburgh with very limited vehicular access. It is identified as a Primary Place location and is one of the busiest pedestrian areas of the city centre. Increasing usage by cyclists of this already very congested shared space will increase the risks to pedestrians, especially those with impaired vision or mobility.

The cycling exemptions project states that its goal is that one-way streets will become two-way for cyclists where it is safe to do so (our emphasis). We do not have a problem with this overall goal but we strongly believe that it is not safe to do so on Rose Street.

If you have any comments on the proposed changes to Rose Street, please let us know.

 

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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 →

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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

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North-South Trams Consultation – NTBCC Response

The New Town and Broughton Community Council has submitted its response to the current consultation on the North-South Trams Route. Our response has focussed on the sections of the planned route within our area and highlighted the following concerns:

  • Impact on congestion and pedestrians of the plans for the east end of Princes Street
  • Lack of alternative routes for traffic that can no longer use North and South Bridge
  • Impact on congestion and pedestrians of the plans for the south end of Queensferry Street
  • Impact on the UNESCO World Heritage Site including Dean Bridge
  • Unresolved technical uncertainties about key parts of the route including Dean Bridge and South Bridge.

You can read our full submission using the following link: NTBCC Response to Trams Consultation. 

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NTBCC Submits Objection to Proposed one-way cycling exemptions for Rose Street and Thistle Street

The New Town and Broughton Community Council has submitted the attached formal objection to TRO 24/27 which seeks to introduce one-way exemptions for cyclists on several roads in Edinburgh including in our area Rose Street and Thistle Street. Our objection reiterates our previous concerns about the adverse impact on pedestrian safety of the proposed changes to these two streets. If you agree with the concerns we have raised in the attached document, please submit your own objections to TRO.consultations@edinburgh.gov.uk by the deadline of 1 August  2025. All objections should include the name and address of the person submitting the objection in order to be considered valid.

NTBCC Objection to TRO 24/27 (One-way exemptions for cyclists)Final.

 

 

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Council plans to introduce one-way exemptions for cyclists on Rose Street and Thistle Street

The City of Edinburgh Council has just published a draft traffic order (TRO/24/27) to introduce one-way exemptions for cyclists on several roads in Edinburgh. This includes Rose Street and Thistle Street on which the New Town and Broughton Community Council had raised concerns in a previous deputation to the Transport and Environment Committee regarding the safety of pedestrians. Anyone who has used Rose Street will know that this mostly pedestrianised street is already very congested. Encouraging more cyclists to use this shared space will only increase potential conflict with pedestrians and thus adversely impact on their safety.

Details of the TRO can be accessed on the Council’s website using the following link. A copy of the NTBCC deputation which provides more information on our concerns can be accessed here.

Having reviewed the latest proposals, we do not believe that the concerns that we raised about pedestrian safety have been addressed. No information has been provided about any road safety assessment or any planned mitigations to reduce the adverse impact on pedestrian safety.  We therefore will be submitting a formal objection to the proposals for Rose Street and Thistle Street.

Aside from the safety concerns arising from these proposals, we do not believe that there is justification for the planned changes to Rose Street and Thistle Street proceeding. When this matter was considered by the Transport and Environment Committee in January it was stated that they were necessary to provide an alternative route for cyclists during the planned redevelopment of George Street. At the Transport and Environment Committee meeting in June, it was agreed that two way cycling would be retained along the entire street during any further redevelopment work.  There is therefore no longer any need for this work to proceed.

We encourage residents to submit their own objections in order that this matter is given further consideration. The deadline for objections to be submitted is Friday 1 August 2025.   The link to the Council’s website provides further information on how objections may be submitted but the email address is as follows: TRO.Consultations@edinburgh.gov.uk