Merchiston Districts Community Council — Minutes of Public
Meeting
Date: 19.05.26
Venue: Polwarth Tennis and Bowling Clubhouse
Started: 19:00. Ended: 21.10
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), (HZ), Roma Menlowe (RM), John McKenna (JMK, Secretary), Bridget
Stevens (BS) Alison Edelsten (AE) Minutes. Clemens Kupke (CK)
Local Schools:
Jay Feeney – Bruntsfield Primary School Parents’ Council
Residents:
Rachel Post (Merchiston Grove Traffic Group) James Bathgate, Susannah Collins (Harrison
Road), James Bell (Polwarth Park), Ian Patterson (Mardale Crescent), Max Edmunds
(Bruntsfield Place)
City Councillors:
Cllr Mandy Watt, Ward 10; Cllr Ben Parker, Ward 10.
Guest.
Jan Woolley (BANZAI)
Apologies Received: Cllr Kevin McKay, Cllr David Key, Cllr Marie-Claire Munro, Cllr Neil Ross,
MDCC – Cameron Gordon, Joan Houston, Helen Zealley, Vanessa, Klaus,
Lynsey Houston, Craiglockhart Primary School Parents’ and Carers Council, Annabelle
MacInnes, Bruntsfield Primary School Parents’ Council (substitute rep Jay Feeney)
- Welcome.
Chair ID welcomed everyone to the meeting & noted apologies. There were declarations of
interest re Union Canal Society donation (item 9 on agenda) from ID, VK and BS - Police Report.
PC Storer, PC Allardice and PC Galbraith from SW Community Team were present.
The main policing issues in their area are ongoing problems with delivery bikes and with
antisocial behaviour.
Members of the meeting raised the following issues:
4 vehicles were stolen from the area, informed by the pharmacist at Polwarth.
Ongoing excess traffic issues across the area.
Parking on Slateford Road in the section along by Gio’s Restaurant at 39 Slateford Road is an ongoing problem, especially on the double red lines and the bus stop and the corner. Resident asked why do traffic wardens not issue tickets?
The police explained that parking tickets are not a police issue; parking tickets are a City Council responsibility.
Discussion as to the absence of wardens after 2pm. The issues have previously beenraised directly with City Cllrs by resident James Bathgate, but he stated he hadreceived no reply. Mr Bathgate also reports an ongoing violation of the food waste disposal rules by Gio’s Restaurant.
Action: Cllrs Watt and Parker will follow up complaints about parking violationsand food disposal violations.
Police now wear body cams – with a positive outcome on potential offendingbehaviour and resulting in less time in court and more time on the streets.
Sgt Coull is exploring a scheme to empower Community Council members to do speed checks, under arduous police criteria. Fairmilehead CC is a current trial area.Discussion of pros and cons and possible risks to residents if they act as volunteer speed checkers.
- Residents’ Issues
Continued discussion about parking behaviour in the vicinity of Gios and of the ongoing rat-
running and excess levels of traffic in the vicinity.
Parking wardens are called into town areas after 2pm for hot-spotting
Parking warden activities are an operational decision and run by a company on a service level
agreement with CEC.
Action – Cllr Parker will follow up with the Transport and Environment Committee. Scot
Gov and Transport Scotland need to react re NPRs. “Hot Spotting” can enable a
coordinated approach in areas of parking rules violation. - Minutes of meeting of 17.03.26 and matters arising:
The minutes were accepted. Matters arising: – RM reported that the MDCC trees survey is
now complete and will be reported on the blog and on MDCC website in due course. Ruth
Davies, CEC Chief Arborist has been very supportive. It is recommended that the Scottish
Government should review and update tree protection. EACC is also interested in this MDCC
project. - Chair’s Report
Chair’s written report was circulated to members prior to the meeting and is available on:
Merchiston Community Council Public Meetings – Merchiston Districts Community Council
Additional points discussed:
AGM on 16 June, election of Office Bearers and presentation of the Annual Report.
Concern about no response from Cllr Jenkinson to MDCC’s letter dated 30 th March,
which was a follow up to important public meeting on 17 th March. Cllr Watt explained about
the change of CEC Directorate.ID is exploring links with Napier University and possibility of MDCC using a meeting
space.EACC have an updated website that contains lots of useful information. - Planning Report MC gave an update report:
Short Term Lets applications in Wards 9 and 10 flats continue to be refused in line with planning policy. This is designed to enable these homes to be available for rent to residents rather than to tourists. There have been about half a dozen such refusals in the last month in these wards. A property at 47 Leamington Terrace has been granted HMO status for 15 residents.
Licensing and Regulation of VAPE shops: Ken Haycox, Regulatory Team Leader in the Licensing Service sent a detailed report which is appendix to these minutes and available on our website and is important to read. The gist of it is that there are currently no regulations on the sale of vapes that apply beyond age restrictions on the sale of tobacco. The suitability of the premises or the fire safety of the products do not appear to be a consideration.
Cllr Parker reported that the Green group have submitted an Emergency Resolution to Scot Gov on these issues. ID will ask Cllr Ross to follow up too. NB there is a Lithium battery fire every 5 hours.
Dalton’s scrap yard demolition is almost complete.
No news on the Brewery development building commencement. - Licensing Report
There is a public consultation on the Public Entertainment License Review at https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/public-entertainment-resolution-2026/ - Traffic Issues
A wide-ranging discussion, summarised as follows:
Harrison Road – CK reports that the work is currently ahead of schedule. In June new bearings to be followed by concrete beams. Concern re TRO to suspend parking until the end of August. This restricts access to properties.
Merchiston Grove – AE reports re closure of Shandon Place between Merchiston Grove junction and the traffic lights for 10 weeks from March to September and potential impact on MG and the surrounding area. If the Brewery work were also to go ahead this would be highly disruptive in terms of traffic impact. If Harrison Bridge is again delayed this would further exacerbate.
Action – Cllrs Watt and Parker will follow up traffic issues with their CEC area colleagues.
Funding Application– RM outlined plans to apply to the SW Edinburgh Community Grants Scheme for a grant to enable community consultation. Focus on the Net Zero and Liveable Neighbourhoods to develop a set of credible proposals. Do the Cllrs of Areas 9 and 10 all support us in this grant application? A draft application will be circulated in due course.
Note: Ian Doig was previously chair of the SW Community Grants Panel but recently relinquished that appointment. Ben Parker will be the Morningside panel member.
Additional Points –
Local Traffic Improvement Programme – Polwarth Junction plans are now with the Road Safety Audit and if approved they will go on to costing.
Junction of Merchiston Avenue and Rochester Terrace is now in the consideration process.
Merchiston Avenue will have a full resurfacing. It is in 2027/28 capital budget.
EACC are to set up a group of several CCs to scrutinise CEC’s road repairs prioritisation and methodology.
Has there been an analysis of the blocking of roads in the Cluny area?
NB – Single Point of Contact for traffic issues at CEC is now Gavin Brown, Head of Roads Directorate. - Treasurer’s Report
After payment of our £50 standing order to FoMBL, bank charges, insurance and the agreed (proposed by ID and seconded VK) sum of £120 to Mike Ellis of Tap into IT for data retrieval from the now obsolete MCC laptop, MDCC has a healthy balance of £1561.85 as of 16.05.2026.
It was agreed to donate £250 to the Canal Boathouse fund. (Proposed RM and seconded VK). - City Councillors’ Reports
Cllrs are gathering data and evidence for CEC City Plan 2040- See
the CEC Consultation Hub for emailing for City Plan 2040.
1600-page report including re Student housing excess and Accessible Housing deficit are key points plus cohousing potential.
Data from 2011 and 2022 census and annual report Edinburgh by Numbers. - Other Reports and correspondence
Jan Wooley from BANZAI (Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative) reported on their work across the following topics: – greenspace, transport, housing, heating, future climate resilience – working across Marchmont & Sciennes and Merchiston.
Banzai aim to put together a local place plan to mesh with the City Plan 2040.
Jan encourages us to all do the survey on the BANZAI website.
There will be pop-up events across the area – contact BANZAI for more information.
Action – Marianna Clyde will become the rep from MDCC to BANZAI. - AOB none raised/noted
- Dates of next meetings
16 June AGM, 15 September, 20 October, 17 November
Note – Information about lack of regulation for VAPE retail units: From Ken Haycox, Regulatory Team Leader in the CEC Licensing Service:
‘I can advise that retailers of vapes are required to register under the tobacco control legislation so that local authorities know where they are for the purpose of enforcing the controls on age restrictions. This is not a licensing system, there is no power to refuse to register premises and the legislation does not deal with any aspect of storage of the products. The Council has no statutory power which would otherwise allow it to licence these retailers. Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers Scotland.
The Trading Standards Service have limited enforcement powers aimed at activity which ensures that age restrictions are complied with, and that the vapes themselves are legitimate and compliant with the relevant standards and are not single use disposable vapes.
In terms of fire safety, the Fire Safety (Scotland) Act 2005 would apply to the premises and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have powers under that legislation.
The Environmental Health Service of the Council has responsibility for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work (etc) Act 1974 as it applies to retail premises. There are however no specific Health and Safety guidance or rules which additionally apply to retailers of vapes as compared to retailers of other goods.
I am advised that in terms of planning or building standards there are no specific legislative requirements for premises which intend to retail vapes.