|
|||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
MINUTES OF MERCHISTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2007 AT 7.00PM ERIC LIDDELL CENTRE, HOLY CORNER CHAIRPERSON'S WELCOME Bridget Stevens welcomed those present, including Cllrs. Alison Johnstone, Gordon Buchan, Mark McInnes, and Andrew Burns; William Mykura, Robin Morris, James Geekie, Frances Hawarden, Mairiannia Clyde, PC Alan Hopper, John and Belinda Lennie and eight members of the general public. Update on Development at Fountainpark Mary Turner, General Manager of Fountainpark Entertainment Centre, together with Fraser Littlejohn, representing Montague Evans Property Consultancy, and architect Chris Browning, provided a short presentation together with a mounted illustration of the envelope within which the new building will be confined, showing it as a white cube against a view of the site from a few hundred yards west down Dundee Street. Also available to view was a street profile from the south, showing how the new building would "step down" from the student hostel building currently being constructed immediately east of the site, to the present Fountain Park buildings to its west. There will be parking for hotel residents. The main entrance to the hotel will front on to Dundee Street. There will be a food store at ground level on Dundee Street next door to the student accommodation. The Hotel is expected to consist of four storeys comprising 150 rooms, above a ground floor Restaurant. The MCC anticipate discussions with the eventual operators of the hotel and restaurant in due course concerning licences being applied for. Bridget thanked Mary, Fraser and Chris for their presentation. BUSINESS MEETING 1.0 Apologies for Absence Cllrs. Paul Godzik, Jim Lowrie and Marilyne MacLaren, Ann Royden, Ian Doig, Kay Smith, Beccy Brooks, Alison Elwell-Sutton. 2.0 Minutes of Last Meeting held in June 2007 were circulated Adoption moved by Robin Morris. 3.0 Matters Arising 1. South Suburban Railway: several thousand signatures had been received in support of its re-opening to passengers. Details of the campaign had been linked to our website. The proposal to re-open the railway has received all-party approval. 2. After further consultations it has been decided that Harrison Road is to remain within CPZ. 3. Neighbourhood Partnerships: Bridget expressed the view that MCC should impartially approach all ward councillors with items of concern simultaneously. However, it is up to individuals to lobby the councilor(s) of their choice as they see fit. 4.0 REPORTS 1. Police Report circulated PC Alan Hopper reported that three individuals responsible for a spate of recent house breakings in the area had been caught and convicted. He reiterated his advice that householders should be vigilant, particularly regarding secure locking of all windows and doors. Bridget thanked Alan for his detailed report and congratulated him on the successful arrests. ii Planning 6b Merchiston Park It is believed that the Planning Department is intending to recommend approval of a modified version of the proposal to build 3 modern terraced houses. A letter had been received from neighbours criticising the modification as inadequate to meet their complaints about the impact on their view and the quality of light. Napier University The proposal for an additional chilling plant at ground floor level has been withdrawn. It is understood that it will be replaced with a proposal to place it on the roof of an adjacent building. Livingston Tomb It was noted that the boundary wall of No 1 Chamberlain Road had been rebuilt, following an earlier application to the Planning Dept. The boundary with the garden ground fronting the Tomb still requires a satisfactory permanent construction.. MCC will continue to press for a full height masonry wall of the same character as that which encircles the Tomb. Harrison Gardens Some anxiety was expressed about the eventual outcome of the Planning Application for the north side (Phoenix Club), which had been withdrawn. MCC would have to be on the lookout for further developments. Tesco The application to install a through- the- wall ATM on the outside wall facing Colinton Road has been refused. iii. Licensing Union Canal - Food Licence Application An application for a Food Licence had been submitted for an outlet situated near the tow path by the Union Canal, at Ogilvie Terrace. There have been numerous expressions of concern at this application, and MCC have written a detailed letter of objection based on several letters and opinions received, including from Councillors and the Union Canal Society. Three Yearly Review of Licensing Policy Bridget had received a three yearly review consultation paper, which is 40 pages long, and provides an opportunity for MCC to comment. Among changes proposed is a reduction from 14 to 9 of the numbers of city councillors on the Licensing Board and a possible restriction on late licences for pubs in residential areas. The deadline for responses to this review is 26th October. It is suggested that interested parties either contact us, or reply directly on an individual basis. The Manager of the Polwarth Tavern was at the meeting and, having heard that neighbours were still complaining about noise disturbance, undertook to arrange for the pub’s noise limiter to be re-set at a lower level. iv. Treasurer - Report circulated Frances reported that MCC had received an unexpected credit of around £526, which had been subsequently reclaimed by the City Council. It appears that MCC will, in due course, receive a one-off payment to allow us to make more widely known our existence and to spell out our role in the two Neighbourhood Partnerships on which we are represented . This should amount to £500 x 2 = £1000. Bridget reminded Frances that she had requested that expenses items of the Chair be itemized (xeroxing, computer supplies, postage etc), and thanked Frances for her excellent report. v. Chair's report - Bridget circulated a written report detailing meetings she had attended. 5.00 ANY OTHER BUSINESS It was noted that Harrison Park had been awarded with a Green Flag. Polwarth Grove: historical flooding problems have been resolved in the main by repair works carried out to gullies and drains, thanks to persistent pressure from Community Council, Councillor Tritton and insurance firms. The problem with unclear signage continues and vehicles and pedestrians (not all peaceful) continue to assume it is a through road to the canal / Harrison Park / ? Councillor Buchan is looking into possible signposting to confirm no access to Canal. It was reported that official road lettering outside the Polwarth Tavern had been selectively altered to read "Deliveries Only", thus effectively removing 2 parking bays for residents. An official notice mounted on a pole had also been defaced. The police had been informed, the city council had eventually (following numerous representations from neighbours and then some media coverage) repaired the damage and the residents’ parking facility has now been restored. Police investigations to identify the culprit are ongoing. Following recent expressions of concern about speeding motorists in Merchiston Avenue (virtually free of parked cars since the introduction of the CPZ), Councillors present at the meeting agreed to investigate the possibility of having speed bumps installed. 6.00 Date of Next Meeting Tuesday 16th October at Viewforth Church Hall It was agreed to leave the subject of the talk that evening to the committee. Home Energy Efficiency and local NHS participation were suggested as possible topics. |
|
|
|
|