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Merchiston Community Council meeting 17th
March 2009 7pm In attendance: Bridget Stevens Chair
MCC Ann Royden Secretary Frances Howarden Treasurer Jenny Mackenzie Minute
taker John Lennie MCC
Planning Robin Morris MCC
Licensing William Mykura MCC
Transport Bob Rendall Eric
Liddell Centre Cllr Andrew Burns CEC
(Lab) Cllr Jim Lowrie CEC
(SLD) Convenor for Planning Cllr Gordon Buchan CEC
(Cons) Cllr Mark McInnes CEC
(Cons) Cllr Phil Wheeler Convenor
for Transport, Infrastructure & Environment Bob Barnham Changeworks PC Wilson Crime
Prevention Officer Lothian & Borders Police Mairianna Clyde MCC James Geekie MCC Alison Elwell-Sutton MCC Norman Tinlin Fairmilehead
CC Andy Davenport Tollcross
CC Kay Smith MCC Ron & Mairi Urquhart Residents
Jim and Christine Straden Residents Mr & Mrs Longmore Residents Mr & Mrs Brockie Residents Ian Reid Resident
Derek Allan Resident
Derek Watson Resident
Ben Wallis Resident
Maurice Gibb Resident
Chris Haw Resident
Anne Edmonds Resident Ian Bouchier Resident
Keith Boyle Resident
Kieron Burns Resident
Caroline Lyon Resident David Walter Resident Mrs C Dons Resident Ian Clement Resident “ L. Doreen McLeod Resident
Ann Greenshields Resident
Fiona Ross Resident Susan Kidd Resident Judith Herring Resident Gavin Corbett Resident and around 25 other local residents Chairman’s welcome Presentation by Gary
Patton -- Traffic Calming Measures across In Five were killed c/f 11 killed in
2008 There were 191 seriously injured. The goals for 2010 are 40% reduction
in those killed or seriously injured and 50% in the numbers of children killed.
The four E’s include:
Engineering, Education, Enforcement and Encouragement Engineering includes traffic calming – CEC wants to manage speeds to
minimize accidents. 50% of the city now
has traffic calming. The Twenty’s Plenty campaign (not mandatory) had minimal impact on
speeds. There are also mandatory 20mph zones and 20mph zones at schools. Vertical interventions include road humps and cushions. Horizontal
interventions include pinch points and road narrowings. Combinations include
build-outs with cushions and raised junctions. In the Current Priorities List North Merchiston rates at 14 (12
accidents) – 75% are pedestrian or cycle accidents; Q: It is not possible to see the
signs easily in A: Drivers are required to reduce speed voluntarily Q: Why is there such a variation
in height of speed cushions? A: The usual height is 75mm, with
a target height within a tolerance of 7mm.
The camber of the road can also slightly affect the height. Q: The police won’t enforce a
20mph zone. A: The police want
self-enforcement. They want to encourage
more appropriate speeds in residential areas. Cllr Phil Wheeler,
Convenor for Transport, Infrastructure and Environment. Re proposed extension of CPZ in Shandon The basic benefits are that CPZs ease the pressure on residential areas
from commuter parking. The areas around
the current CPZs are being monitored – we take into account both the local
pressures and the local response to proposed new zones. . If there is a feeling that there isn’t an
appetite for CPZ, we respond accordingly.
We do take on board local residents’ views. Cllr Burns drew attention to the Transport Committee Meeting on May 5th
when the results of the informal
consultation would be considered. If the
decision was to proceed with CPZ in Shandon, there would then be a full and
formal consultation. Comment from Shandon resident:
There are too many cars for the spaces available. Provision was decided before cars became so
available. Ambulances, wheelchairs and buggies can’t get along many streets where
parking is not controlled. Cllr Wheeler: Pavement parking is
a police matter. It is true that there are too many permits for the spaces available, and
reducing the number of permits is one option.
The committee has agreed to additional tariffs based on carbon
emissions. The agreed date for this is
Spring 2010. Q: How does the council know how
many permits should be issued? Q: Could we consider protection
of kerbs with double yellow lines? That
is nothing to do with CPZs. Cllr Wheeler: It takes 18 months
to get double yellow lines introduced. We have asked officers to come up with alternatives to full controls
which could be less prescriptive and restrictive. The ring of Park and Rides around the city has taken several thousand
cars off our streets. We have 60,000
cars coming in to a city that can cope with 40,000. Our big challenge is ‘how do we continue to manage commuter parking?’ We
could extend the ring of CPZ zones where residents want them. Comment from Shandon resident. In
our area elderly people would have to buy permits for visitors. Comment: The introduction of
Resident Permits does not solve the problem of excess parking after 6.30, which
is what is clogging the Colonies. Q: Is it illegal to park on the
pavement? A: It is illegal to drive on the
pavement, but not to park on it. Comment: It’s disgraceful to
allocate two permits per house. The
council should be discouraging people from using cars. There should be only one per household. Cllr Wheeler: The Edinburgh City Car Club is a very popular alternative
which has been operating in the city for 10 years. Cars can be hired for short-term use from
sites across the city. The project is
contributing to reducing the use of cars on our streets. Comment: More research needs to be done about achieving a better balance
between resident need and use of cars.
You need to take the trouble to go out and speak to people in their
area. Also these issues should also be
driven more by health and safety. Does
there have to be only one solution for all situations? Cllr Wheeler: Local councilors
speak on behalf of the people in their area.
The committee will make their decision based on the advice that they are
given. Chair: You need to make sure that
the people making the decisions know what you think. Comment: You don’t need a survey
to know that there are too many cars for the spaces available.. Most of the cul-de-sacs in the Shandon
colonies need a turning circle for safety.
Cllr Wheeler: Double yellow lines
10 metres from the apex in both directions can help. Some small streets have mews parking – this
also could be a possibility. Chair: We have heard some
interesting ideas. Send Cllr Wheeler and
me your views and say what your solution would be.
Community councils can speak at the Transport Committee as a
deputation. The decisions made should
represent the majority view. Note: Cllr Wheeler’s requested
follow-up response from Marshall Poulton is attached. Regarding proposed changes in Bob Barnham from
Changeworks. There are climate challenge funds available for community groups that
have relevant goals. We would like to
get communities engaged. This CC might
be interested in presenting a funding application. Request for
Neighbourhood Watch in Shandon/Ashley. Chair: There is lots of advice
available for setting up a Neighbourhood Watch, but it is a self-organising
process. Names collected of those
interested. Business Meeting 1. Apologies for Absence: Cllr Marilyne MacLaren CEC
(SLD) Cllr Alison Johnstone (Green
Party) PC Julie Cochrane Community
Beat Officer, PC Hopper Ian Doig Alison Walker Resident
2. Minutes of last
meeting (17th February 2009) and Matters Arising. Approved by Alison Elwell-Sutton Matters Arising In response to Helen Zealley’s query about whose responsibility it is to
sweep up leaves - both snow and leaves are now the responsibility of the
council. Orwell Lodge Hotel: A developer’s plan to turn the hotel into
flats has failed. The property is now on the market again. Re HMOs: The South Central Neighbourhood Partnership
meeting held a debate on the matter. A
small group has been formed to present residents’ views on the numbers of
licences granted and discuss possible quotas.
University students are represented on this group. Mairianna Clyde will represent MCC. Re canal path walls: One of the proposals from the Canal Development
Group is that for the walls on the towpath side landscaping could perhaps
improve the damaged fencing. The towpath
belongs to British Waterways and the walls in bad condition belong to the
tenement owners. The Group would like the CCs views on what should be done with
the walls. The CC agreed to support a proposal to make the walls less dark
subject to more details being provided.
The Chair presented
a written report (attached). PC Wilson –Crime
Prevention. Area covered is massive geographically. PC Wilson has made himself known in the
area. At certain times of the year there
will be crime hot spots. Preferred
communication strategy about the need for caution is emails to co-ordinators and secretaries rather than leaflets through doors. At certain parking areas it is known that
thieves will watch people putting handbags in the boots of cars, so it would be
more suitable not to take them to the sites at all. A good policy is to be Secure by Design, that
is, to take the proper precautions, such as not leaving coats and items in
cars, locking windows, particularly in summer, making sure deliveries don’t
highlight your absence from the house. Ward Councillors’ Reports Cllr Mark McInnes: The
application for There were complaints about the lack of gritting during the bad weather.
Cllr Andrew Burns. Re the
railway track at the back of Cllr Gordon Buchan: The
council is looking at putting double yellow lines in Cllr Jim Lowrie: The Planning Committee is in the Air Control
Working Group. There are certain areas
in which we are breaking European Legislation in Planning An application for the removal of an extension at the back of a nursing
home in Licensing Residents living above the Polwarth Tavern are still being disturbed on
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Treasurer’s report. (attached) The Treasurer would like any outstanding accounts asap in preparation
for the accounts being presented to the auditor. AOB HMOs Ann Wigglesworth of Tollcross CC would favour a maximum of 30% of
households being HMO per stair. Chair
would be sympathetic to a quota. Comment from the floor: Convenor
of the Regulatory Committee Colin Keir, speaking at an EACC Saturday Morning
Question Time, had indicated that he was against quotas. Chair: The principle in general
is that MCC and most local residents would encourage limits. Re The Meadows: The council has finally produced a ‘Future
Use Policy’. Four big events have been moved from the site. Students have indicated that they appreciate
the amenity that The Meadows provides.
Further discussion about less use and protecting The Meadows is being
driven by Friends of The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links. Will be discussed at the May SCNP meeting. Comment: There is a management
plan for The Meadows and a Green Flag application has been lodged. Police Grant fund Money is available for community based projects which limit the environmental
footprint or enable people to grow their own foodstuffs. The meeting concluded at 9.30pm. There will be no meeting in April. The next meeting will be the AGM, to
be held on Tuesday 26th May, 2009 at the Eric Liddell Centre., Holy
Corner. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Councillor Wheeler ISSUES ARISING FROM MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING Thank you for sending your notes from the recent meeting of the Merchiston Community Council. I understand Gavin Brown has already responded to the issue of double parking and parking on the footway but I hope I can address the outstanding issues. I can confirm that parking surveys have been carried out and the results will be included in the report to committee on May 5. These surveys are considered a more useful guide to the likely impact of a controlled zone than using census data on car ownership within in the area (especially since this data would now be several years out of date). At present there are no plans to consider mews status for the Shandon colonies in any future proposals. Mews status is only used in streets where marking space is not possible or where marking space would result in a considerable loss of space. The Shandon colonies do not meet these requirements. Mews status can have the potential to limit the flexibility of the zone as a whole. This is because within a zone parking pressures can be spread so that across the zone as a whole there is sufficient space to cater for the different demands. Mews streets prevent this by reserving the street for mews permit holders at the expense of non-mews holders who will find their choice of space diminished. It is also worth reminding residents that visitor permits cannot be used within a mews and that mews status can therefore make it harder for residents to have visitors and tradespeople. Since mews status is designed to protect streets with limited space, we could not prevent some of those who have purchased permits from parking in the street whilst still allowing for visitor parking. There are no plans to further reduce the permit eligibility criteria and would consider it unlikely that such a move would be widely supported especially where there are high levels of multiple occupancy. Whilst a controlled parking zone cannot guarantee a space outside a permit holders home, it would be intended that there would be sufficient space across the zone as a whole to meet the needs of permit holders during the hours of control. Further limitations would therefore seem unduly prohibitive and unnecessary. We are aware of the need to balance safety and traffic flow issues whilst still maximising parking availability. As such, we aim to restrict the use of yellow lines to areas where it would not be possible to mark parking, such as corners and junctions. Single yellow lines would be used across driveways to protect access and in narrow streets where parking can only be accommodated on one side. We do aim to maximise parking wherever possible although the Council, as roads authority, has final responsibility for determining what restrictions are appropriate on any part of the road. All day controls are not currently being considered in either existing or future zones. Longer hours of control would require higher permit costs due to the costs of increased enforcement. At present permit costs only meet approximately 25% of the costs of operating a controlled zone with the rest being met through pay and display users. It would not be possible to enforce extended controls unless the costs of this were met and this would need to be met through charges associated with the scheme rather than through council tax revenue. It is also worth explaining that controlled parking zones are primarily intended to tackle problems of commuter parking and hence operate during the times when this is likely to be a problem. Evening parking problems are more likely to be due to high levels of car ownership among residents and thus, parking controls during such times could directly impact upon residents and not necessarily make parking easier. Indeed, it may interest you to know that, alongside those who request longer hours of control within controlled zones, there are many who call for shorter hours. We are of the opinion that the current hours of the controlled parking zones are appropriate given the problems that are being addressed. Regarding accusations relating to the possible over-sale of permits, permits are not limited to a particular number but rather through eligibility criteria which affect the numbers of people able to purchase a permit. It is considered that this is a fairer system than one operating on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Concerns regarding lack of space have been raised as part of the informal consultation stage and will therefore me considered when a decision is made about whether or not to bring forward formal proposals for controlled parking. I hope that these comments are useful. As you are aware, this consultation is being conducted following the requests of some residents. However, no decision has yet been made about the future for the area and the recommendations we make to committee will be based largely on the results of the informal consultation. If you have any further questions, please contact Andrew MacKay on 0131 469 3577. Yours sincerely
Signature of
or on behalf of Marshall
Poulton Head of Transport MERCHISTON COMMUNITY
COUNCIL For meeting on 17 March 2009 C H A I R’S R E P O R T MEETINGS/EVENTS ATTENDED
FOR MCC BY
BRIDGET STEVENS since 17 February 2009 18 February Waste Awareness 23 February South Central Neighbourhood Partnership Formal motion rejecting claim Director of
Corporate Services’s claim that private rented sector is being managed
effectively and requesting CEC ensure continuing dialogue and engagement with
all relevant stakeholders. Shortlife
working group to be formed consisting of reps from relevant CCs including MCC,
a landlord and 2 student reps.
Mairianna Clyde to represent MCC.
Formal request for problem-spotting walkabout in South part of MCC area
with officials from CEC Environmental Services. 4 March
Meeting with David Grout, Macmillan Cancer Support to discuss
community links and Macmillan’s wish to identify local fundraisers. 5 March
(with Frances Hawarden) Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change
Conference Scottish
Government’s Climate Challenge Fund
available for suitable projects eg Transition – but bidder normally has to pay
costs upfront and then reclaim from Fund. 6 March
Short Life Working Group on the Meadows & Bruntsfield Links Report on future use of Meadows finally
ready for presentation to full Council.
Need to balance quality of landscape with use of the site as an event
venue. Concern that progress taking so
long. 9 March
Visit to Police/City Council CCTV Centre Other members of MCC have represented us at other
meetings. In addition to the above, MCC’s Planning Group, Web Group and Agenda Group, plus other ad hoc groupings of
members, continue to hold regular,
informal meetings to discuss any action required between full MCC
meetings. Minutes are available
of all formal meetings. Papers
relating to City Council meetings can be found at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ KEY CC = community council MCC = Merchiston Community Council HMO = House in Multiple Occupation NP = Neighbourhood Partnership SCNP = South Central Neighbourhood Partnership SWNP = South West Neighbourhood Partnership MCC is represented on both SCNP & SWNP. Delineation of geographical areas covered is
available at
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Attachments/Internet/Council/Partnerships/Community_planning/neighbourhood_partnerships_map.pdf |
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