Merchiston Districts Community Council — Minutes of Public Meeting

Date: 20.01.26

Started: 19:00. Ended: 21.10. Meeting by zoom

Chaired by Ian Doig, Chair of Merchiston Districts Community Council (MDCC)

Present:

MDCC Members: Ian Doig (ID, Chair), Vivien Kitteringham (VK, Vice-Chair), Mairianna Clyde (MC), Frances Hawarden (Treasurer), Joan Houston (JH), Helen Zealley (HZ), Roma Menlowe (RM), Gordon Cameron (GC). John McKenna (JMK, Secretary), Bridget Stevens (BS), Mary Breatnach (MB), Vanessa Meadu (VM), Klaus Glenk (KG),

City Councillors: Cllr Cowdy, Ward 9; Cllr Mandy Watt Ward 10; Cllr Ben Parker Ward 10,

Residents: Alison Edelsten, Marley Henderson, Clemens Kupke, Ann Buist, Duncan Wallace, Ian Patterson, Callum McKane, Raphael Uddin, Gordons…? Jay Feeney, Ed Hawkins, Hannah Cuthbertson,

Apologies Received: Cllr Kevin McKay, Cllr David Key, Cllr Marie-Claire Munro, Cllr Neil Ross, Lynsey Houston, Craiglockhart Primary School Parents’ and Carers Council, Annabelle MacInnnes, Bruntsfield Primary School – Parents’ Council

1. Welcome.

Chair ID welcomed everyone to the meeting & noted apologies. There were no declarations of interest.

2. Residents Issues. None raised at this stage.

3. Police Report.

There were no police present as they do not use ZOOM due to security concerns. JK reported back on the South East Edinburgh Community Policing Forum he attended on 15^th January at St Leonards Police Station. This was the first SE Community Policing Forum meeting.

There were 3 members of public or interest group reps present, JK was the only community council representative present.
There were 7 police officers present.
Women’s safety was a focus topic. Low street lighting can be problematic – it can be turned up but then can be intrusive for residents. DW suggested motion sensors and hoods. Cllr Mandy Watt will investigate this matter.
The police cannot chase suspect young people on motorbikes – instead they follow on CCTV, obtain camera evidence and then visit at their home location.
Free bus pass misuse and behavioural issues with some younger people on buses.
Bruntsfield and Morningside Traders are notifying each other when miscreants are enroute.
Abandoned vehicles.
Speeding – There are very few police officers to deal with the widespread speeding problem. (community speed watch initiative elsewhere was mentioned by ID)

4. Minutes

Minutes of the 17.11.2025 meeting were approved. No matters arising.

5. Chair’s Report

ID spoke to his written report, which had been circulated to MDCC members.

Meeting venue costs have increased to £45 per meeting if in-person. We have booked in person meetings for February and March and need to decide for future meetings. Re online meeting platforms: Zoom is less secure, but Teams is not accessible on all computers. No budget or equipment for hybrid meetings. Assuming we prefer in person meetings but please let ID know if you prefer online meetings.
Congratulations to Bridget Stevens on her MBE award, to be presented tomorrow
Meeting on 4^th March with Cllr Jenkinson – Agreed 1 speaker from MDCC, 1 from Harrison Road Residents and 1 from Merchiston Grove Traffic Group. The meeting will need to be well structured and planned in advance.
Diversion of buses 27 and 10 due to closure of Gilmore Place from 26.01.26 for 4 months. Some evening and w/e access for cars. Cllr Parker will follow up on questions raised.
25^th January Gorgie Road will shut for 6 months, Slateford Road is currently shut in westwards lane at the Maltings. All 3 east/west major routes have significant roadworks
Speed checks – police have limited time and equipment but complaints about speeding in several locations have been reported, including Ashley Terrace, Colinton Road, Spylaw Road and Merchiston Grove. ID has requested police speed gun checks, and speeding complaints should be followed up by police.
Community Speedwatch. Enables residents to check speed and feedback information to the police. Merchiston Grove Traffic Group are already registered.
Flooding – Repeated flooding reported at Polwarth Terrace/Gillsland Road junction traffic lights. Cllr Parker will follow up, including clarifying whether Scottish Water or CEC is responsible and to request corrective action.
EACC is working proactively with CCs. There is a need for increased funding for CCs.

6. Co-option of and Clemens Kupke and Alison Edelsten

6a. The meeting agreed to co-opt Clemens Kupke, from Harrison Road Residents Group, and Alison Edelsten from Merchiston Grove Traffic Group by a 2/3 majority. Proposed by VK and seconded by JMK. Both had submitted a brief synopsis of experience and reasons for wishing to be on the MDCC.

6b. JB spoke of her regrets and reasons for resigning as a member. JB’s resignation was noted; this created a vacancy in MDCC’s full membership of 16 members,

7. Planning Report.

MC gave an oral report. There is a large development in the planning phase in Fountainbridge. There is a pre-application meeting (PAM) 26 January 3-7pm in the Printmakers. The company is Montague Evans, and the proposal is for a hotel, student accommodation, a community hub, roof top bar etc. MC will attend the PAM.

A villa in the conservation area has applied to cover its entire front garden with permeable asphalt. Even if in this case the drainage implications are managed through a permeable covering, there could be issues about whether hardcore front yards are compatible with the urban landscape values in CEC’s Character Appraisal. Sadly, similar applications have been given planning consent, so an objection by MDCC might not carry much weight.

[post-meeting note: RM advised MC, with GC’s support, that she had lodged a personal objection.]

A couple of short term lets (STL) applications have been refused by CEC – in keeping with the council’s policy of reducing STL expansion.

Jackie Stuarts garage is to be turned into student accommodation. There is no working definition of the saturation threshold level for student accommodation.

8. Licensing Report.

GC gave an oral report. Wetherspoons have applied to take over the existing pub next to Cineworld. Note the council’s relaxation on licensing saturation.

9. Traffic Issues.

Local Traffic Improvement Programme – Reports on Several Projects

Polwarth Project is progressing through the system, and we anticipate the next stage will be assessment by an independent road traffic audit. If this is successful or minor changes only it will next go to CEC’s Commissioning, and it is hoped it is through by later this year and that implementation will start in early 2027.

Merchiston Avenue/Merchiston Crescent/Rochester Place. In response to comments from residents in the context of the consultations on the redesign of the Polwarth junction, CEC are open to receiving another application for funding to the Local Traffic Improvement (LTI) Programme. VM put together an online survey in mid-December to collect qualitative data and received over 100 responses. AI analysis (Claude AI tool) showed 57 reports of actual or near miss collisions. This is higher than the official crash map date. Pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users are all respondents raising concerns about safety. The application for LTI funding will be submitted to CEC next week, hopefully for this year or next year CEC funding award.

Resurfacing Merchiston Avenue. Ben Parker is checking out if Micro Asphalt is to be used, if the full length of the road is to be resurfaced and the timeline given as 150 days. Micro Asphalt would not be adequate for such a badly eroded road.

CEC’s Dundee Street Active Traffic Plan. A wide range of views were discussed on the merits and disadvantages of the proposed active travel plan. There were different views on floating bus stops, the rationale behind the plans, climate factors, public inconvenience. It is essential to reduce the number of bikes on the canal and also look at speed reduction measures.

NB It was pointed out that there is no change at the junction of Dundee Street and Western Approach Road (into town) for either pedestrians or cycles. Cllr Ben Parker has raised this point.

Harrison Road Closure – MDCC had already circulated all the information it has received from CEC about the City Council’s plans to reinstate both the former railway bridge and the canal bridge in Harrison Road., both of which have been completely closed to through traffic by all vehicles since summer 2025. Concern was expressed at this meeting about the length of time CEC’s rectification work is taking and the uncertainty about when and with what conditions both these bridges will be reinstated (weight limit of 7.5 tons and what route HGV traffic be diverted to when weight limit of 7.5 tons is imposed etc).

Harrison Road closure has also increased the previous north-south vehicular traffic problem because traffic currently has to take alternative routes because Harrison Road is closed.

City Councillors were requested to provide further updating for residents on remediation timescales and construction work asap.

Merchiston Grove. This narrow cobbled residential street continues to be a rat run. Usage varies but at times it is dangerous. It is not included in the Dundee or School routes and will likely become worse. The building work at the Brewery will impact. Resident activists now agree that a TTRO to close one end is the most effective means – as was discussed in the recent past.

Summary on Traffic Issues. These traffic issues are all interrelated and will be discussed at MDCC’s 17^th March public meeting with Cllr Jenkinson.

10. Trees Project

KG reported that we have been working with post graduate student Will Ellis to produce a small series of 4-5 blog posts. To recall, Will completed his MSc dissertation in Ecological Economics investigating data and views regarding the past and future of the urban forest in the Merchiston and Greenhill Conservation Area. Draft topics for posts include:

1) Introduction to Tree Project – why, who, where?

2) Tree work in Merchiston and Greenhill Conservation area – an analysis of related data (tree work requests)

3) Favourable outcomes – views of residents, administration and tree work service providers

4) A synthesis on views regarding existing regulation: is it “fit for purpose”?

5) Practical guidance to residents

Also, project is liaising with Ruthe Davies (CEC Arboricultural Officer) and with our support, Will is exploring an opportunity to publish a short 3,000-word article in the ARB magazine – a publication of Arboricultural Association – based on his thesis.

11. Leaf Clearing Project

HZ and JH gave a progress report. From September 2025 a total of 29 Volunteers signed up to contribute to the Merchiston Leaf Clearing Project. 17 of the Volunteers have responded to our request for information about how much clearing they have achieved. They have filled the following number of bags, which were then collected and disposed of by CEC.

265 large bags – filled and collected (some were extra-large)
307 ‘standard’ size bags – filled and collected
26.5 brown bins filled.

(Post Meeting Update. 306 Large bags; 322 ‘standard’ size bags and 36.5 bins filled).

HZ and JH were thanked for their work in establishing and managing this community project.

This active participation community project is much appreciated by residents. However, we urgently need new project coordinators to take over from Helen and Joan to enable this project to continue. Suggestions are invited.

12. Treasurer’s Report.

Balance of £2,000 in MDCC bank account noted. Polwarth Project funds have now been expended.

Formal approval of £72 agreed for consultation leaflet expenditure. Proposed by ID. Seconded GC.

After payment of £72 for Polwarth Project leaflets, bank balance is £1,925.

Format of Meetings – Feb and March meetings have been booked as in person at Tennis Clubhouse. £45 a meeting charge for future in person meetings was noted. Decision on format (in person, Zoom online or hybrid) will be reviewed after March meeting.

Digital Banking – Being explored. Existing cheque signatories are Ian Doig, Bridget Stevens and Mairianna Clyde, with 2 manual signatures required for payments.

Intention is to move to digital banking, which will also speed up payments.

It was agreed to change signatories to Ian Doig, Vivien Kitteringham, John McKenna and Frances Hawarden (i.e. current Office Bearers). All payments will continue to require 2 signatories and will use digital card readers to supersede manual cheques.

13. City Councillors’ Reports.

Cllr Ben Parker – CEC’s budget in February will impact on work ahead. CEC is rescheduling some loans to increase flexibility.

Cllr Christopher Cowdy – 2 new school crossing guides on Ashley Terrace. Fly tipping continues to be a problem in various areas.

Cllr Mandy Watt – Cllr Watt is Convenor of CEC’s Finance and Resources Committee. CEC’s visitor levy will bring in much needed additional funding. Cllr Watt will share more information at MDCC’s February meeting, including how visitor levy funds will be used.

14. Other Reports and correspondence. none

15. AOB

1. An enthusiastic welcome to Raphael Uddin, who was previously MCC’s volunteer Project Support Officer and minute taker during his gap year after leaving Boroughmuir HS, before departing to St Andrews University.

2. Lynsey Houston, convenor of Craiglockhart Primary Parents’ Council had sent in a request for MDCC to work with Craiglockhart Primary and George Watsons College to promote safer road use in the area. At present the efforts of Craiglockhart pupils are undermined by the driver behaviour of some Watsons’ families. MDCC is keen to support improvements to road safety in our area.

Gordon Cameron agreed to participate in discussing road safety issues with the schools.

3. MDCC constituency boundaries have changed and parts of Morningside and Fountainbridge are now in Edinburgh Central Constituency. About us | Maps & Boundary Reviews | Boundaries Scotland

17. Dates of next meetings.

17^th February and 17^th March. In person meetings at Merchiston Tennis Clubhouse.