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Merchiston Community Council meeting Tuesday 15th
September 2009 7pm at Eric Liddell Centre, Holy Corner. In attendance: Bridget Stevens Chair
MCC Frances Hawarden Treasurer Jenny Mackenzie Minute
taker Raymond Rickis CEC
Community Safety Team Dr Ali Afshar Director
of AMA Homes Robin Morris MCC
Licensing Cllr Jim Lowrie CEC
(SLD) Convenor for Planning Cllr Gordon Buchan CEC
(Cons) CLL Mark McInnes CEC
(Cons) PC Alan Hopper CBO
( Bob Rendall Eric
Liddell Centre Mairianna Clyde MCC James Geekie MCC Ian Doig MCC Kay Smith MCC John Lennie MCC Nicholas De Luca Resident
Sebastian Geiger Resident
Chris Bierley Resident Ken Nelson Resident Alissa Ruane Resident Eva Tombs Resident A&P Harbenon Residents Chris Bierley Resident
Jenny Goldsmith Resident Monil Jackson Resident Niamh Troy Resident
Palia Troy Resident
R. Marshall R. Marshall Resident Val Hunimeyer Resident Kevin Wood Resident John Higinbotham Resident Edward Bewsher Resident Ian Clement Resident Chairman’s welcome Presentations: 1. South Team leader Raymond Rickis noted that the Community Safety Team is part
of Services for Communities. It includes
Environmental Wardens, Community Safety Officers, Community Safety Concierge,
Neighbourhood Action Unit. The SW Neighbourhood office serves 100,000 residences and links with 13
local councillors, two MSPs, two Neighbourhood Partnerships, 16 Community
Councils and 10 Tenants Associations. Community Safety is a massive area of
work. The activities which support this
are progressive and integrated. Environmental Wardens are responsible for monitoring of domestic and
trade waste, litter days and weeks of action.
There is a high fixed penalty rate for dog fouling, there are regular
patrols and there are night-time warden patrols also. Last year £35,500 was spent on youth diversionary activities, the money
was targeted to areas where there is most youth disorder. The complaints about
young people disturbing others has fallen by 50 per cent over the last few
years. Graffiti can be traced by following the “tags” of the offenders. They are usually from middle class families
and once identified, can be charged. Noise can be a problem, but the night noise team is very effective. If offenders do not respond, the team builds
a case against them. There are three full ASBOs (anti-social behaviour orders) currently
being monitored and four banning orders (the first in Fixed CCTV cameras cost £25,000 each and mobile cameras, fixed to
lamp-posts, are cheaper and very effective, but can still cost up to
£10,000. Last year funding was available
for six posts and two cameras. Several
are in the Morningside area, two in Wester Hailes and two at the ScotMid at
Oxgangs. Tapes are usually kept for one
week and then destroyed. Morningside traders are forming a traders’ association in order to
purchase a camera themselves. The chair
noted that the CCTV monitoring centre is very interesting and a visit could be
organized for MCC. Mobile cameras are
streamed live to the monitoring centre, but most tapes are monitored
retrospectively if something happens that needs tracing. CCTV is useful for tracing shoplifters and
monitoring anti-social behaviour at pub closing times. The images are very high quality. Community Safety Forums are currently being developed. These will enable communities to have a say
in what issues they want tackled. They
are likely to include a representative from each community council. A shared newsletter will be developed. The Team monitors how safe people feel.
Dr Afshar said that local consultation exercises led to at least 80
responses to the initial plans from CCs and local residents,. More than 100 people attended an earlier
public meeting. A lot of reservations
had been expressed. We have read all the
concerns and will address those we can.
We are looking to address the many concerns about access in particular. The density of the site will not change, but the mix of dwellings may
change. We will not reapply, the
original application would be adjusted. Cllr Jim Lowrie, head of the planning committee confirmed that if the
adjustments to the original plans address the core objections, then a
reapplication would not be necessary. One resident from the Flower Colonies said that this big One member voiced concern that the pre-planning meeting consultation
indicated that much had already been agreed between the developers and the
planners about the number of bed-sit type units to be included for example. It
seems that decisions had already been made.
He felt that the whole of Primrose Terrace will be one large hostel for
students. Dr. Afshar: We are not here to
misrepresent to the public. We do talk
to the planners. Our massing diagrams
indicated residential and commercial units, with managed accommodation.. We want to hear about people’s
objections. The student accommodation would be well
managed. We are talking to Heriot Watt
and Napier university about the management of the student accommodation, but we
may manage this ourselves. We have
always consulted with the local community with our previous developments. We have received some objections and some
praise for this development. In the past
about 40 per cent of objectors finally end up living in our accommodation. Question: How do you manage 220
students, early in the morning for example?
Ans: There would be on-site staff
to manage the site. Cllr Lowrie said that managed student environments are much better for
neighbours and surrounding residents than HMOs, (houses of multiple occupation)
which tend to be very disruptive to everyone else and much harder to monitor
and control. Cllr Buchan asked AMA Homes if they would give an undertaking to produce
a revised set of plans. Dr. Afshar said that these would be produced within the
next 10 days. The main changes will be
the means of access and to the mix of use to include more family units. Mairianna Clyde noted that the government has introduced laws to speed
up the planning process. This plan came in before the new ruling. She asked why the plans are being changed
before going to the committee. Cllr Lowrie said that the committee relies on its officers to respond to
the objections. He said that the
committee looks at what local people say and feel about any application. Members were urged to pass their concerns to their local councillors who
will pass them on to the planning committee. John Lennie also urged lobbying each member of
the planning committee directly by email or letter. Ian Doig said that anxieties of local residents need to be addressed. Everyone would like such matters to be
decided by the democratically elected members.
We need to be aware that too many things happen that shouldn’t happen. Cllr Buchan enquired about a transport assessment. AMA Homes said that they were not asked for a transport assessment. The site is heavily used with two entrances
at present. Dr. Afshar said that any
further traffic would use the existing
routes and they were told not to plan for a new through road. One objector noted that the ‘car-free’ status allocated to Primrose
Terrace would be unrealistic and unenforceable.
The chair would write to the CEC Director of Development asking to see
the final version of the plans. Business meeting 3. Apologies for absence: Ann Royden Secretary Cllr Paul Godzik CEC
(Lab) Paul Scott CBO (Lothian and Borders Police) Cllr Andrew Burns CEC (Lab)
Approved by Ian Doig. Seconded by Robin Morris Subject to the following correction nder AOB: Add “perceived threat from the” after “Ian Clemens about the . . ”
Police: PC Alan Hopper. Apologies that no printed newsletter is available this meeting – circumstances outwith his control. .Artisan 2, applied to The Meadows and surrounding areas during the festival. had resulted in a significant reduction in vandalism and anti-social behaviour. There were five house-break-ins, one cycle theft and one break-in to a motor vehicle. A well-known house-breaker was brought to court and given a five-year prison term. Graffiti is still a problem in this area. The police do trace individuals through their “tags” when possible. A report of some masked perpetrators harassing George Watson students would be investigated by PC Hopper. Thefts have been reported from cars left at beauty spots. Walkers are urged not to put handbags under seats or, preferably in the boots of cars either, where thieves might see them doing so. Treasurer’s Report The account is in credit. After the EACC grant of just over £870 released in August, a balance of £940 is recorded. Planning As noted above, there have been
exhaustive discussions about the proposed development for John Lennie drew members’
attention to another re-development of an existing property, this time at The chair noted that the community council has to reflect the views of residents. If the CC receives no objections from the community, it cannot normally object to an application. Cllr Lowrie said that if there are no objections, then the decisions are made by delegated powers outwith the planning committee. Robin Morris noted that often recommendations only go to ward councillors the day before a decision is to be taken. Cllr McInnes noted that HMO applications are emailed to ward councillors one week beforehand and requested that this be done to statutory consultees, like CCs, also. Cllr Lowrie said he would report back to the CC about this request at the next meeting. Re Orwell Lodge: The chair reported that this building is owned by Festival Inns and ran as a hotel with a noisy bar for many years. Twice a plan to sell for converion to flats has fallen through. Now the planning permission has been withdrawn. Licensing The Ettrick Hotel: There have been two episodes of late-night noise. The Polwarth Tavern: People do stand on the pavement while drinking and smoking. However this is not illegal. Transport MCC Transport William Mykura absent. Community Council Elections Returning officer Cllr Buchan reported on the elections. Sixteen nominations had been received. Several interest groups are also to be represented on MCC. Officers will be elected at the next CC meeting in October. Jenny MacKenzie requested to continue as minute-taker for MCC. Chair’s report: (See attached) Secretary’s report: Meetings attended on behalf of MCC since last public meeting. (See attached) Other Report from Cllr Mark McInnes: Planning application has been lodged for a budget hotel/hostel at Leamington Terrace. Numerous objections from the community have been received. All four ward councillors have objections. Gordon Buchan; There have been complaints about
the level of cleaning done in Complaints have been received
about a dentist’s advertising banner in William Mykura could be a possible rep for the Parking Panel which will be held on 21st October/ AOB Ian Doig reported on his first representation at the EACC (Edinburgh Association of Community Councils) Interesting, but too much on the agenda. The first EACC Question Time for the season will be held at 7.30 on Thursday 24th September at City Chambers. The topic will be Neighbourhood Partnerships and all community councillors and members of the public are welcome. The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links have been refused Green Flag status. It was agreed that a donation of £20 should be made from MCC to the Meadows Festival Association. Ian Clemens will attend the next Coburn Association meeting to be held on 1st October. An MCC/community notice board has been installed at the
junction of Ashley Terrace and |
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