The Big Wheel in East Princes Street Gardens – NTBCC Issues Comments

The New Town and Broughton Community Council has submitted its comments regarding the planned installation of ‘The Big Wheel’ in East Princes Street Gardens from this summer until January next year. Our comments have focussed on the loss of important public green space, potential damage to the environment as well as the adverse impact on the City’s heritage and UNESCO World Heritage Site. A copy of the full comments can be found below.

NTBCC Comments – The Big Wheel

There is still time if you wish to submit your own comments to the Public Spaces Team at  publicspaces@edinburgh.gov.uk . The closing date for comments is Thursday 20 March.

NTBCC ordinary meeting minutes 11 November 2024

NTBCC’s minutes secretary/web-weaver apologises for the late publication of these minutes, caused by serious illness. He is now almost fully recovered, and looks forward to more timely work in 2025.

Minutes of New Town & Broughton Community Council’s ordinary meeting, on Monday 11 November 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.

1 Welcome and apologies

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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)

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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