Friends of King George V Park

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Proposed Demolition / Redevelopment of the Former RBS Site – Summary of NTBCC’s Position

There will be a hearing at the Council’s Development Management Sub-Committee on 17 February 2021 (via Microsoft Teams) on the three interlinked applications related to the former RBS site at Fettes Row / Dundas Street.

The applications to be determined at this hearing are :

  • 20/03034/FUL ‘ Demolition of existing buildings and erection of mixed-use development comprising residential, hotel, office and other commercial uses, with associated landscaping / public realm, car parking and access arrangements at 34 Fettes Row’ (including the later revised application). NTBCC submitted an objection to this;
  • 20/03661/CON ‘Complete Demolition in a Conservation Area’. NTBCC stated that the case for 100% demolition of buildings on the site had not been made ; and
  • 20/03655/FUL ‘Formation of path and associated landscaping King George V Public Park’. NTBCC suggested a lower impact intervention should be considered.

NTBCC (together with other local interest groups and  some heritage bodies) will be presenting our  views on the proposals as a whole, covering key issues that have been raised in our previously-submitted representations. Links to the full NTBCC responses are at the foot of this article.

NTBCC’s objection to the main application (20/03034/FUL) reflected issues raised by local residents groups (from Fettes Row & Royal Crescent, the Drummond Civic Association, as well as from the recent Applecross development on the corner of Dundas Street & Eyre Place) and also the Friends of King George V Park.

Key amongst the issues  we highlighted mirrored concerns raised by Historic Environment Scotland on the proposed heights of the four crescent blocks proposed for the current open ground to the north of Royal Crescent which will have a detrimental impact on the World Heritage site, the New Town Conservation area and the amenity of King George V Park (KGVP). These concerns are exacerbated by the proposed positioning of the northern crescent blocks within a few metres of the boundary of the park. The AVRS (Accurate Visual Representation) as submitted with the application showing the before / after view from within the park looking south can be viewed here and a similar visualisation looking east to the corner of Fettes Row / Dundas Street here.    Continue reading →

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King George V Park: Update to Tree Removal & Replanting Proposal

For those that have seen the ominous white ‘X’s on the trees in King George V Park.

Adapted from an email copied to NTBCC from the Secretary of the Friends of King George V Park to their members.

‘Dear Friends of the Park,

We are picking up an understandable amount of somewhat bewildered concern in the neighbourhood about just what is happening to the trees in the park at the moment, and The Friends’ committee thought it might be a good idea to try to clarify the situation as best we can.

It is obvious that many of the people expressing concern suspect the hand of the developers of the ex-RBS site to be behind the tree works.  To a certain extent, it is. Planning legislation makes provision for local authorities to seek from developers a financial contribution to a community, by way of compensation for disruption or otherwise unwelcome change, and the Council has been involved in discussions with Ediston about the form this could usefully take.  Parks staff  have concentrated on funding for upgrading the paths in the park and tackling much needed tree management.

The trees conspicuously marked with a white ‘X’ in the park are ailing and are probably appropriate subjects for removal & replacing with new.  Sadly they include all the ash trees, which are threatened nationwide by the devastating outbreak of chalara fraxinea.

Continue reading →

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NTBCC minutes – Monday 9 September 2019

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held in Drummond Room, Broughton St Mary’s church, Bellevue Crescent on Monday 9 September 2019 at 7.30pm

Actions and decisions are red italic underlined. nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against a decision.

In the chair’s absence at the start of the meeting, the vice-chair chaired the start of the meeting (items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6).

1 Attendance and apologies for absence

Susanna Beaumont NTBCC Carol Nimmo NTBCC Chair
Judy Conn NTBCC secretary Richard Price NTBCC Planning convener
Stephen Hajducki NTBCC Sheila Warnock NTBCC
Simon Holledge NTBCC Communications convener Alan Welsh NTBCC
Stuart McAllister NTBCC Alllan Jack NTBCC Transport convener
Jack Hugh NTBCC Alan Macintosh Broughton Spurtle
Susan Macinnes NTBCC ~35 residents

1.1 Apologies for absence

Jonathan Finn NTBCC treasurer Cllr Amy McNeese-Mechan Leith walk ward
Chrissie Ross NTBCC treasurer Cllr Joanna Mowat City Centre ward
Deidre Brock MP

Hal Osler

 Edinburgh North and Leith

Inverleith

Continue reading →

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NTBCC minutes – Monday 8 January 2018

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, held in the Drummond Room, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent on Monday 08 January 2018 at 7 pm

Actions and decisions are RED ITALIC UNDERLINED SMALLCAPS. Nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against the item. Continue reading →