Latest news with #CityofEdinburghCouncil
Daily Record
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scots couple win bitter row with neighbours over hedge that made lives 'misery'
Keith Smith and wife Julie were left frustrated by a row of cypress trees belonging to David Hunter and Niena Hunter Mistry in the city suburb of Prestonfield. A couple have won a bitter row with their neighbours over a hedge between their properties in Edinburgh. Keith Smith, 71, and wife Julie, 68, were left frustrated by a row of cypress trees belonging to David Hunter and Niena Hunter Mistry in the city suburb of Prestonfield. The Smiths claimed the trees were making their lives a misery and turned to the City of Edinburgh Council in a bid to have them lopped. They were left stunned when the council rejected the move but later successfully appealed to the government and the trees had to be cut to 8.5ft. But one tree remained which the Smiths insisted towered over their garden and left it in darkness. Mr Hunter turned to the Scottish Government in a bid to save his tree but that has been rejected and it will have to be lopped to 8.5ft. The row had grown increasingly bitter since 2020 with police even being involved after a disturbance was reported. In his appeal letter, Mr Hunter insisted the tree was not part of the hedge and begged for it to be kept. He said: "The individual tree identified in the varied notice cannot reasonably be said to be part of the boundary hedge. It appears as a separate individual tree and has never been trimmed. "We would be very grateful if you would take all our points and concerns into account and request that you quash the revised high hedge notice." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In a document to the government, the Smiths said: "The cost to the public purse must be considerable in terms of government, council and police resources. "We, the Smiths, have suffered hugely financially, emotionally and physically by this process and sincerely hope this will now lead to resolution." Mrs Smith had earlier said she was constantly 'anxious, stressed and scared' to enter her garden and claimed the conflict had impacted on her marriage. Government reporter Amanda Chisholm said: "During one period of sunshine, I observed that the disputed tree casts shadow over a significant proportion of the neighbouring property's rear garden. "In any case, the varied high hedge notice applies to the hedge as a whole, which has already been found to adversely affect this property's reasonable enjoyment. In my view the part of the hedge that has not been reduced in height continues to do so."
Edinburgh Reporter
5 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Millions raised from the sale of council-owned property
The City of Edinburgh Council has raised £48.8 million from the sale of a range of properties, according to an investigation conducted by independent news cooperative, The Ferret. Although city prices are higher than elsewhere, by comparison The City of Glasgow Council sold only £20 million of their properties in the same period. In total, Scottish local authorities sold off 1,851 properties in recent years and between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024 the total value of council owned property sold off was £243 million. Edinburgh properties Some of the larger numbers in the Edinburgh figures represent land sold for residential developments such as the land at Meadowbank which will be developed for housing and which has a price tag on it of £9.9 million. This and the other site at Fountainbridge which is said to have raised £9.6 million make up a large proportion of the property sold off and are essentially 'balance sheet' transactions transferring the property into the housing revenue account. Finance and Resources Convener Cllr Mandy Watt explained: 'Despite the financial challenges Edinburgh Council has faced over many years, the sale of council owned properties has mainly generated funds to invest in better schools, homes and workplaces. There have also been disposals as part of the community asset transfer programme, which allows local groups to bid for council land and buildings for community use. 'It's common practice for us to transfer land from our general fund to our housing revenue account. All land and buildings owned by the council are evaluated for potential social and affordable housing use before consideration is given to selling them. Sometimes we work with local community groups to develop a place plan, with a mix of housing and commercial buildings, so that areas have local jobs and services in addition to much needed new housing. This is what we are doing at Meadowbank and at Fountainbridge.' Edinburgh has sold off five schools – although this is usually where they have committed to building a new school in the same catchment area. STUC The Scottish Trades Union Congress commented on the sales saying that the scale was 'alarming as it is unsurprising'. Deputy general secretary Dave Moxham said that local authorities are 'swinging the axe' at services which provide vital support for everyone in our towns and cities'. This comment reflects the outcry when Edinburgh council agreed to 'sell off' – (actually this was achieved by means of a long lease) – the property at Infirmary Street to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. Previously several third sector groups used the building which the Society are now renovating with the aid of around £7 million of UK Government funding to create a Fringe hub. In emotional deputations to the council the third sector groups explained why this central location was crucial to their work, but this did not prevent the transfer of the property off the council's books. Work has begun at the former South Bridge Resource Centre to convert it into the new Fringe Hub COSLA, which represents Scotland's local authorities, said that while councils 'work hard to continue running high-quality services', they face significant budgetary challenges. 'This means that in some cases they have had to make difficult decisions about which properties and services they can continue to run,' said a spokesperson. 'COSLA will continue to advocate for a fair budget settlement for Scottish local government that recognises the importance of local decision making in getting the best outcomes for our communities.' Meanwhile the Scottish Government has repeatedly said that it has given Scottish councils a record payout this year of £15.1 billion. The government claims 'this is a real terms increase of 5.5%'. Meanwhile local authorities have to pay wage rises, additional employer National Insurance contributions, all amid higher demands for their services – including health and social care where there is a shortfall of an estimated £50 million. The list of properties sold in the capital includes these: Loading… Edinburgh City Chambers. © 2023 Martin McAdam Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Tourist chiefs call out Edinburgh on 'unworkable' levy
Businesses are expected to begin displaying an accurate levy to all guests on October 1 this year for all stays starting from July 24, 2026. However, with less than three months to go until October, tourism bosses says businesses are still waiting for the guidance they need. In a letter to the leader of City of Edinburgh Council, Jane Meagher, and all council members, a range of groups representing the Scottish tourism industry warn that the timeline for implementing the new levy 'remains unworkable at present'. 'The current roll-out timeline for business required to apply the levy places unnecessary and avoidable strain on the sector,' the letter states. 'With less than three months remaining before accommodation providers must begin displaying levy-inclusive pricing, there is still no practical or technical guidance from the council or VisitScotland, despite assurances this would be received like the guidance that was published for local authorities back in October 2024. 'While the levy may appear simple, its application is complex - particularly given the intricacies of accommodation pricing and booking systems. These challenges have been clearly communicated to the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, and the council and are at the heart of why guidance is imperative ahead of implementation. With no guidance, there can be no successful implementation. We urge the council to recognise the serious risk this lack of guidance poses - especially as [[Edinburgh]] leads the way as the first to charge a levy in Scotland.' I love Scotland but returning from holiday made my heart sink Edinburgh firm outguns forecasts after snubbing £1bn takeover approach 'We believe in Glasgow': Developer gives city huge vote of confidence Scots legal giant cites 'resilience and ambition' as latest results revealed The industry's frustration over the lack of guidance is the latest in a series of concerns business groups have highlighted over the operation of tourism taxes in Scotland. In May, nearly 80 groups representing thousands of tourism and hospitality businesses wrote to Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee to underline their fears about the implementation of the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act. In the letter, business chiefs stated that the legislation as it stands will place the burden for collecting the tax on companies already under pressure from protracted cost inflation, and warned that operating the levy could tip many small operators over the value-added tax (VAT) threshold. This could lead to some withdrawing from the accommodation market because it would be financially prohibitive, the letter stated. Industry groups called for the legislation to be changed to make the system more workable. A proposal was tabled to replace the current model of charging tourists a percentage on the cost of an overnight stay with a fixed fee, and for a digital QR system to be introduced to remove the responsibility of collecting the tax from businesses. More generally, tourism chiefs have expressed concern that adding a tax to overnight stays in Edinburgh could undermine its competitiveness on the global tourism stage. The letter to City of [[Edinburgh]] Council, which was signed by bodies such as the Scottish Tourism Alliance, UK Hospitality (Scotland), [[Edinburgh]] Hotels Association, the Association of Scotland's Self Caterers, and the Association of Scotland's Visitor Attractions, adds: 'To be clear, as an industry we are not trying to halt the levy being applied in [[Edinburgh]] by July 24, 2026, but are asking for a realistic timeline for implementation ahead of this date to comply with what is legally required of us. 'This constitutes a new era for how accommodation is priced in Edinburgh and Scotland more broadly, and the levy will likely be with us for many years to come – it's therefore critical that the implementation is handled in a way that ensures long-term functionality and credibility.'
Edinburgh Reporter
10-07-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Travellers evicted from historic Newbridge site – leaving a trail of rubbish behind
After a period of six weeks during which two groups of travellers have occupied the Huly Hill site at Newbridge the encampment has now been vacated, with debris and rubbish left littering the area. Gordon MacKerracher of the Newbridge Association said that while there is relief that the travellers have left, residents live in fear of others arriving to take their place. He said villagers are 'really, really fed up with this encampment'. He explained there were two lots of travellers, the first on the site for about three weeks before there was a short break and a second group moved in. Sheriff Officers visited three days ago and gave the people living there 24 hours to move on. According to Mr MacKerracher who has lived in the area for almost five decades, the site has been used by the travelling community for a number of years, and the Association has had many dealings with the council trying to get the area secured. The City of Edinburgh Council own the land and Historic Environment Scotland look after the monument. Mr MacKerracher said: 'it is a 3,000 year old historical monument with standing stones. This is where they found a Roman chariot when they were laying the foundations for the industrial park across the road. It has a fence all the way round it but the travelling community simply cut the fence and drive on to the grass with their caravans. This time the fence which was cut was only one day old. It was a brand new fence and they burned the fence within the historical monument.' As you will see in our photos there is a great deal of rubbish and household waste, including soiled nappies, left behind after the latest group departed. There is also an amount of garden waste, indicating that the travellers have been doing gardening work in the area and dumping the rubbish on the Huly Hill site. At a meeting of the Association at the weekend, local MP, Christine Jardine spoke to the residents who say they want to withhold their council tax and put it in a separate account to fund their own repairs. According to Mr MacKerracher's information the council believe it will take up to a year to secure the site – although they appear to have funding to clear the rubbish. Ms Jardine said on Thursday: 'I attended the recent community meeting with my Liberal Democrat colleagues, and have been speaking to concerned residents about the need for a swift clean-up operation. I am writing to the Council to pass on the concerns, and ask for a timeline for the clean-up and a resolution going forward.' This is another blow for the residents in the village where the latest bus service to Edinburgh passes through Ratho and makes a loop about 100 yards away from Newbridge but does not collect any passengers. Villagers who want to take a bus to the city centre are faced with a dangerous walk to the main A89 road. Mr MacKerracher said that this decision is another bone of contention for people living in Newbridge. He said: 'We just seem to get ignored.' The City of Edinburgh Council has been contacted for comment. 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson 10/7/2025 Huly Hill (Neolithic and Bronze Age) at Newbridge Midlothian Edinburgh where travellers were moved on and have left a real mess behind. PHOTO Alan Simpson Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Watchdog objects to demolition of building for student flats
A statement on behalf of the developer by 56three Architects for 66 flats involves the demolition of a three-story building designed by John Duncan MacLeod and Victor James de Spiganovicz and built around 1907 as the institute. The application has been lodged with the City of Edinburgh Council. The Cockburn Association, the city's heritage watchdog, has submitted an objection on the grounds it 'appears to fail to comply with key policies'. The association said: 'While the site is appropriate for redevelopment in principle, the proposal's excessive scale, poor design quality, and loss of distinctive existing buildings raise serious concerns. 'The five-storey frontage block is too tall for its context, and the overall massing, especially in conjunction with adjacent proposals, risks overwhelming the surrounding townscape and conservation areas. 'The design lacks architectural distinction and fails to respond meaningfully to its setting. Internally, the proposed rooms require careful assessment with respect to daylighting standards, and external amenity space is limited and heavily overshadowed.' READ MORE: The developer's statement currently being considered by planners said: 'A Heritage Statement is included as part of this application, for which an in-depth assessment of the existing buildings can be found. 'The building on Ratcliffe Terrace is the former Causewayside Lads Institute and has been assessed to be of low importance. 'A report of valuation was also commissioned by the client which concludes that the building is in poor condition with a market value of nil in the current market, and therefore unsuitable for a loan in its current condition.' It added: 'The report concludes that the state of repair is very poor, both internally and externally, including brickwork, windows and roof. There is also structural cracking on the south elevation. 'In terms of marketability, the report states that there is very limited demand in the location for the use class of property, with excessive capital expenditure required and extended marketing period to secure a purchaser.' A council archaeologist said: "The site occurs on the one of the main medieval routes into Edinburgh's medieval town from the South via Liberton and entering Edinburgh via the medieval Portsburgh suburb and Bristo Port. "This area began to be developed during the 18th century with Kirkwood's 1817 map showing the site occupied by a Georgian property owned by a Mr Christie. This building survives into the fourth quarter of the 19th century when it is replaced by what appear to be small workshops/ industrial units coinciding with the expansion of Victorian industry."
