Latest news with #NewTownandBroughtonCommunityCouncil
Scotsman
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
'Strong concerns' after Edinburgh Fringe venue built in city centre without planning permission
Edinburgh locals have questioned how much control the city council has over building works after construction on a major Fringe venue was started without planning permission being granted. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Famous Spiegeltent in St Andrew Square is returning to the festival after an almost decade long hiatus – and is already up and running after construction started in June. The works began without planning permission – and while a city committee is set to approve it at a meeting next week, one resident said in an objection to the application that the Spiegeltent was 'flying in the face of due process', and that the Council should force it to be dismantled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And a response from the New Town and Broughton Community Council said it had 'strong concerns' about the application – though they said they did not believe they would be listened to. The Spiegeltent has made a return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe after a nearly decade-long hiatus | Joe Sullivan Community council vice-chair Richard Price wrote: 'In terms of the proposal itself – we would note that there appears to be significant 'footprint creep' happening. 'Each subsequent application here seems to require more facilities, more concessions and the proposals involve the occupation of an increasing and significant portion of one of the city centre's few accessible green garden squares across July and August. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This application also introduces a more intense commercial and cultural event space into a sensitive setting than previously.' He also wrote that, given those factors, the community council would have expected to see a full assessment of the impact of the development on the conservation area and the World Heritage Site. But, he added, this had not happened, and due to the lateness of the application it would not happen. Mr Price continued: 'While we recognise the cultural significance of Edinburgh's festivals, this cannot come at the cost of planning integrity, public process, or the equitable use of valued civic spaces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Given the above, for what it's worth, we would wish to register our objection to this proposal as presented. 'We would normally state that we trust that these comments are helpful in the determination of this application, but in this case, that comment is superfluous.' The Cockburn Association also put in a response to the application, saying they 'object strongly' to it. They wrote: 'At the time of writing, construction is visibly underway, with the event infrastructure already in place despite the fact that the application has not yet been determined. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This pre-empts the planning process, disregards due democratic oversight, and undermines public confidence in the integrity of the regulatory system.' Green fencing, interspersed with advertising hoardings, is in place on the southern and eastern sides of St Andrew Square | Joe Sullivan They also raised objections similar to those of the community council, and said there needed to be balance between cultural events and equitable use of public spaces. Both groups supported a review of Fringe and other festival venues occupying public land, and called for limits to be placed on them. Developers do not need to apply for or receive planning permission before starting on a development. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The tent missed its 100th anniversary in operation during an almost decade-long absence, but will celebrate its 105th year in existence at this Fringe. It will host events for the Jazz and Blues Festival, as well as for various concert shows during the Fringe. According to the planning application, filed on June 11, construction was to begin on June 30, with the entire structure set to be gone by September 12. Structures for a bar and dressing room were also described in the application, as were four food stalls. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The site has been hosting events for the Jazz and Blues Festival since July 12, with Fringe programming starting on July 23. Green fencing, with occasional advertising hoardings laid over it, is in place around the south and east sides of the square. During the Fringe, the tent will host cabaret and circus act La Clique until August 31, with other acts interspersed throughout the festival. A report by officers did not address the lateness of the application, or construction starting before planning permission was granted, except in a summary of public objections raised. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It says that the area is 'very busy' during the festivals, and that the proposal is 'unlikely to cause significant harm' to amenity in the area. A spokesperson for Edinburgh Council said the application will be considered at the next meeting of the Development Management Sub-Committee on Wednesday, August 6.
Edinburgh Reporter
12-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Council defers approving permanent traffic measures on London Road
Some of the measures introduced under Spaces for People during the pandemic are still not officially permanent after a decision was deferred by councillors on Monday. At a meeting of the Traffic Regulation Orders Sub-Committee, two Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) were included on the agenda for the sub-committee to declare the arrangements permanent. But councillors approved only one – that affecting Cockburn Street, High Street, South St David Street, Victoria Street and West Bow and Waverley Bridge. In respect of the other – ETRO 21/28A which includes segregated cycling measures (the black and white wands) introduced on London Road – a decision has been deferred until the next meeting of the sub-committee, as funding still has to be allocated. A council officer confirmed that the actual arrangements on the road may be changed in response to the objections received. The council report states that 'consideration will be given to upgrading the temporary materials used during the trial to permanent materials'. An officer confirmed this will be a rolling programme, and he explained that given the number of schemes and the extent of them they could not yet say what will be done at every location, but that they intend to have money allocated each year over the next five years for upgrading. Convener Cllr Margaret Graham asked about the objections to the cycle lane on London Road in particular, and how the officers had monitored traffic there. The council officer confirmed there had been cycle counts on London Road with cameras, and said the council has also carried out monitoring of the volume of traffic, looking specifically at the build outs at bus stops where cyclists have to move out into the middle of the road. He confirmed that in a permanent scheme the council would remove the bus build outs and the cycle lane would then continue straight avoiding the need for cyclists to 'weave in and out' to improve safety. One of the objections raised by New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) in the autumn of last year was the impact on road safety for cyclists – where the cycle lane has gaps – meaning that cyclists have to rejoin the carriageway at several points. Cllr Kevin Lang said: 'I am very conscious of the objections which we have had, which relate to safety, which I think we need to take seriously. We do not have clarity yet as to whether there will be the funding allocated to upgrade the infrastructure to respond to the objections. It strikes me as sensible to defer a decision on these matters until we, as a committee, can be satisfied that there will be a response to the objections. I feel the funding package is a material consideration for me as to whether the objections are being adequately responded to.' After Cllr Lang asked what the budget for this year would be it became clear that the funding had not yet been fixed – and would not be until the Transport and Environment Committee met on 22 June to agree the new ten year capital programme. The committee also heard from Dave Sinclair, Locality Transport & Environment Manager, that the highest spec of bollard was chosen at the point of delivery – the black and white wands which NTBCC has suggested are inappropriate for the World Heritage Site. Given the uncertainty of how much money there will be for delivery, and so how these wands could be replaced, councillors agreed to defer making any decision until their next meeting. Watch the webcast of the meeting here. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
12-05-2025
- Scotsman
Edinburgh traffic: Last-minute bid to stop Waverley Bridge bus ban and London Road cycle path becoming permanent
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Councillors are being urged to draw back from confirming two controversial experimental traffic measures as permanent at a meeting today. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) has objected to the removal of buses from Waverley Bridge and the cycle path on London Road between Easter Road and Blenheim Place. The council's Traffic Regulation Order sub-committee, meeting on Monday May 12, has been recommended to set aside objections and make both measures permanent. The New Town and Broughton Community Council say the the ban on buses at Waverley Bridge has led to congstion at Waterloo Place and Regent Road. | Google Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the NTBCC claims the relocation of tour buses and airport buses after they were banned from Waverley Bridge has led to congestion at Regent Road, Waterloo Place and St Andrew Square and in particular on the pavements along Regent Road and Waterloo Place, with consequent adverse impacts for traffic management and road safety. It says service buses are sometimes having to wait to access their bus stop on Waterloo Place and passengers often have to step into the road to ensure they are visible to approaching buses. And it says the temporary segregated cycle path on London Road does not meet its objective of improving safety for cyclists because they have to keep moving in and out of the path because of bus stops, meaning many do not use it. In its objection the NTBCC adds: "At the time it was introduced, the NTBCC suggested that Montrose Terrace and Regent Road would provide a better and safer route for cyclists wanting to access the city centre area rather than having to negotiate Picardy Place. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "By observation and discussion with cyclists it does not appear that the temporary cycle path is being well used." NTBCC secretary Mike Birch said the community council did not believe the issues it raised had been properly addressed in the report by officials to the sub-committe. He said: "We're urging the council to look again at these two [measures] and ensure that the views of the NTBCC and others who have raised concerns are properly considered." Airport buses have been allowed to return to Waverley Bridge on a temporary basis to restrictions on South St David Street for construction work at the Jenner's building.
Edinburgh Reporter
11-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Council's Traffic Regulation Orders Sub-Committee meets on Monday
This committee was set up to be completely separate (apart from a handful of councillors who are members of both this and the Transport committee) and to decide upon the traffic orders which change the layout of our city streets. The meeting on Monday has what looks like a lightweight agenda, but the New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) would beg to differ. The community council has written an article on their website which is almost an open letter or a replacement for a deputation – since they are not able to make a deputation to this quasi-judicial meeting. They say they have significant concerns about the council planning to make some experimental traffic regulation orders permanent. NTBCC have concerns about the request to the committee to make Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) in two places permanent – on Waverley Bridge and on London Road. The community council believes the issues which they raised previously have not been properly addressed in the report before the committee and ask for it to reconsider what it might make permanent. Waverley Bridge The bridge was previously more or less a pedestrian zone apart from a taxi stand and the many delivery vehicles which continued to use it. It used to be stopped up at Princes Street where buskers had an unofficial ready-made performance space. In light of the continuing work at Jenners which spills out onto one lane of South St David Street, the decision was made to allow airport buses back onto the bridge and open up the road at Princes Street on a temporary basis. The community council argue that this made streets such as Waterloo Place busy with buses to the danger of pedestrians. They also point out that there are two regulation orders which do not end on the same date and recommend that these are amended. Loading… London Road This is possibly one of the widest streets in Edinburgh – it used to have four lanes of traffic – and there are wide areas either side for pavements and verges. The council chose to put in black and white wands (NTBCC say these are unusable in the World Heritage Site) and create a segregated cycle lane. Except it is not completely segregated as cyclists have to rejoin the carriageway at several points to avoid bus stops and junctions. The community council say that Montrose Terrace and Regent Road would have been the better option. They point out that the cycle lanes are not well used (although the council has not provided data on the use of this route) and are not connected to other cycling infrastructure. The community council refer to the coach parking at Baxter's Place just down from the Playhouse which they say is connected to the loss of parking on London Road. They also object to the ETRO on the basis that the measures do not help cyclists or pedestrians and have a detrimental impact on surrounding streets. Loading… The papers for the committee meeting are here on the council website. Like this: Like Related
