Here is a link to the Police Scotland Edinburgh South West Community Policing Team Newsletter for Q4 2025. A South East Community Policing Forum is just getting off the ground. Hopefully, we can move to a South East Newsletter reasonably soon. However, there is a lot of useful background and information in this one:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fm_uXBakABOwBE2S95cnqif0oXFQJ7lH/view?usp=sharing
Cameron Toll Redevelopment: The TTfE volunteer team see the Cameron Toll proposal as a big boost for their push to re-open the South Edinburgh suburban rail line (South Sub). It brings into play the idea of a major transport hub at Cameron Toll, joining up the North-South Tram line with the West-East sweep of the South Sub from a Murrayfield junction, through to Fort Kinnaird, then conceivably on to Portobello or Musselburgh. The team are keen to reinforce their vision with the Cameron toll developers. The drive is now on to find sponsors of a further feasibility study. If you would like to join the venture, contact mailto:tramtrainsedi@gmail.com or visit the 'Reopen the South Sub – Tram Trains for Edinburgh' Facebook page.
RM congregation has now joined that of Marchmont St Giles to form Blackford and Grange Parish Church. There is no longer public worship in the RM Church. T he joint Kirk Sessions are now submitting a request that the Presbytery of Edinburgh and West Lothian, and the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland, review the initial decision to close / sell the Reid Memorial buildings. The RM halls will remain open through 2026.
However, the major question arises as to what comes next. An important neighbourhood and community venue is at risk. The local Scout and Guide groups, along with badminton, yoga, various musical groups and Mother and Toddler groups may well be unable to find alternative accommodation and they could also close.
It’s too early to say, but the call is out from a few RM members for local residents who have any ideas on what to do next. A ‘community buyout’ is one avenue – Bellfield Church in Portobello is a precedent – but that is a mighty undertaking. Mr William Ivory is Group Lead Volunteer with 85 th Braid Scout Group at RM and he is opening this conversation, on a blank page.
The important step now is to begin filling it in, with any sort of workable ideas or proposals whatsoever. Mr Ivory will likely move to convene a public meeting and we will keep you posted on that.
In the first instance, contact Mr Ivory at mailto:gsl85thbraid@tusks.org.uk if you are interested in this community project. Let me know too at secretary@grangeassociationcc.org.uk . GPCC will look to assist on this project as it can.
We launched the Voice on 1 December. Cori Schwabe (a GPCC member) is promoter, producer and editor. Across the Grange, Blackford, Mayfield, Newington, Waverley and Prestonfield neighbourhoods and communities we want to bring together news on what's happening, what's going on and what's up. What you share grows elsewhere! Make a start by scanning this mobile camera code:
The Astley Ainslie Local Place Plan has now been officially registered with the City of Edinburgh Council Planning Department. This is a significant milestone and means that the sponsoring Astley Ainslie Community Trust’s vision for the future of the Astley Ainslie site is now formally recognised within the city’s planning framework. The Plan ‘reflects priorities identified through community-led engagement and sets out aspirations around green space, heritage, wellbeing, and long-term public benefit’.
The full Local Place Plan can be viewed on website below. If you would like further information or would welcome a conversation about the Local Place Plan and what it means in practice, please get in touch with the Trust by contacting jillian.simon@aact.scot
Local Place Plan — Astley Ainslie Community Trust
An accurate source of information for the public and interested organisations regarding future, ongoing and past works on Scottish roads. What is happening where, and why, in the locality and beyond. See the Scotttish Road Wroks Register website here:
https://roadworks.scot/what-we-do/performance/scottish-road-works-register-srwr
This is the proposed large PBSA development encompassing the Causewayside Lads Institute. CEC Planning refused the developer’s planning application which included demolition of the existing building. The developer has taken the matter to the Scot Gov Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA). A DPEA Reporter ‘has been appointed to consider the matter’ and a decision will be issued ‘in due course’.
Here is a useful link to Scot Gov guidance on the planning appeals process: https://www.gov.scot/publications/planning-and-environmental-appeals-division-guidance-on-taking-part-in-planning-appeals-and-other-cases/
LPP are a core element of City Plan 2040. They are at the heart of an invitation from the Council to community groups to describe how and where they would foresee improvements to local place, space and amenity in their neighbourhoods. A local group 'Banzai', centred in Bruntsfield, is leading a LPP initiative across 'Bruntsfield, Merchiston, Marchmont and Sciennes'. You can read a full description of what they have in mind in the link below. Note the invitation to complete a survey and to attend a series of 'People's Assemblies' on 31 Jan, 28 Feb and 28 Mar.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v8g8mNu9loq1oZkPsGZtUOLS_D8BTAWU/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=114749827647976879977&rtpof=true&sd=true
There has been an expansion of the 'Voi' E-Bike 'active travel' facility in the GPCC area, notably around King's Buildings and up towards Marchmont. Some of the early site selections for 'bike bays' (made in conjunction with Council officers) look 'awkward'. I would point to the Grange Loan / Kilgraston Road junction as an example. There are others. We want the hire scheme to work. It is going to expand further. At the same time, pedestrian and road users have to be safeguarded from bike 'clutter' and bike 'abandonment'. Report 'incidents' in the first instance via this link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roads-travel-parking/cycle-hire-scheme . Contact GPCC with cases of repeated bike misuse. (The contact point is at the top of the page.)
Work on this LDP has to be in good part complete by 2028. It's of fundamental importance. The plan will help shape the city from top to bottom as it grows, expands, changes, adapts. On Saturday 17 January, at Cameron Toll, from midday into the afternoon, you can take a look at the outline ideas and themes. It is well-worth patching in to what is going to evolve here. Try this link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/local-development-plan-guidance-1/city-plan-2040
