CRAMOND & BARNTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Incorporating Cramond, Barnton, Cammo & Quality Street (West)
Minutes of Meeting held on Thurs 16th March 2017 in
Cramond Kirk Millennium Hall
Present: Andrew Mather (Chair), Ian Williamson (Secretary), Peter Scott, Ross Wilkinson, Percy Feketey, Jean Morley, Alan Rust, Tim Mitchell, Grant McCulloch, Gena Wylie, Paul McLaughlin and Marion Mitchell. A total of 27 people were in attendance including Councillor Lindsay Paterson.
Welcome and introductions
The Chair welcomed those attending and noted apologies from Bert Scott, Patricia Eason and Alastair Sheilds.
Police Report
The police report was given by a WPC based at Corstorphine. She advised that the report covered the period from 11 February to 11 March 2017. 22 Crimes had been recorded in the area over the period. These included 4 acts of vandalism, 2 housebreaking with intent, 3 housebreakings with theft, 3 thefts, 3 RTs, 2 assaults, 1 fraud, 1 involving mobile communications abuse and 3 other crimes including a break-in at Black and Lizars in Davidson Mains where a substantial amount of designer sunglasses were taken. Counterfeit notes had been passed in one of the shops in Barnton. It was also noted that the Police Helicopter had been tasked to Cramond in recent days following reports of the sighting of a vulnerable missing adult in the area. A number of questions were raised including about whether there was any pattern to the housebreakings and what to do if you as a householder became aware of an intruder in the house. On the former the answer was that there was no pattern but that there was the need for caution when going on holiday – make neighbours aware so they could be more mindful of strangers in the area. On the latter, the advice was to avoid confrontation and to phone for the Police where possible.
Presentation by Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP
By way of introduction, Alex Cole-Hamilton referred to the 25,000 doors he had knocked on during the election campaign as well as the 1,500 people contacts he received from constituents looking for assistance with everything from potholes to unsolved murders.
He began by announcing that following a petition and an ongoing campaign he had with the co-operation of Lothian Buses and the Edinburgh Airport managed to secure a new A200 Airport bus which would run from Leith and serve the A90 Queensferry Road corridor. The service would operate from 23 April; he was hoping it would run as an express service and would serve the Gyle. On crime, he had been working with the Police in an effort to address the problem in Drylaw with motorbike theft and the risk to the joyriders involved.
On crime, he had been working with the Police in an effort to address the problem in Drylaw with motorbike theft and the risk to the joyriders involved. Pursuit was not an option for the Police because of the risk to life. Three summits had been held and with the aid of support from the Roberson Trust work, community and training opportunities were being identified for many of the youngsters who were otherwise being caught in this crime. On Health he had been working on a national perspective with a particular emphasis on mental health. 25% of patients presenting to the NHS had underlying mental health problems. He had also been engaging with the Health Board and with the Planners in stressing the need for there to be greater awareness of the incremental impact of housing and nursing home development on service which were already operating at capacity. He had been working with Housing to change the rules on planning gain. As a result in
On Health he had been working on a national perspective with a particular emphasis on mental health. 25% of patients presenting to the NHS had underlying mental health problems. He had also been engaging with the Health Board and with the Planners in stressing the need for there to be greater awareness of the incremental impact of housing and nursing home development on service which were already operating at capacity. He had been working with Housing to change the rules on planning gain. As a result in
He had been working with Housing to change the rules on planning gain. As a result in Edinburgh planners were expected to contemplate the impact on health care services and the will of local people. There was a need for greater rigour in ensuring that developers delivered on section 75 commitments and that the necessary infrastructure was provided. He was supportive of the work being conducted by the Airport Action Group both in relation to striving to influence arrival and departure flight paths. He was writing to make known his views to the Civil Aviation Authority.
He was supportive of the work being conducted by the Airport Action Group both in relation to striving to influence arrival and departure flight paths. He was writing to make known his views to the Civil Aviation Authority.
His views on the continuing spectre of independence for Scotland were well-known; he would be opposing a proposed referendum should there be a vote in the Scottish Parliament. If another vote was supported he expressed the hope that it would be conducted with less rancour and divisiveness than on the last occasion.
A number of questions were raised. The prospect of acute hospital services being withdrawn from the Western General. He advised he would be against this and if it were being proposed then – as a major service redesign – if would have to come into the Scottish Government and in turn the Parliament. He was challenged about the manner in which the Party took the credit for so many developments in literature often where much of the work and drive had not been theirs, or at least not theirs alone. The need to try to ensure that the new airport bus service should also connect into the Gateway Station was raised. The expectation that it would provide a service for many who had lost out with the withdrawal of the Horsburgh 64 service was expressed. On the City Deal details had thus far been sketchy but it was hoped this would emerge in the near future. He was lobbying hard on the need for investment in transport infrastructure.
Airport Report
The Chair provided a brief resume of the recent open day held at the Kirk Hall where representatives of the Airport and of the CAA had met with more than 150 people who came along to learn more about what was proposed and to make their views known. There was a sense that the Airport were all too quick to take at face value the advice they were receiving from their technical experts about the inbound flight path. There were contrary expert views, including from pilots. The Airport had agreed to conduct some simulated arrivals exercises to see what could be achieved. The Council had accepted responsibility for monitoring the environmental issues. On noise monitoring, the positioning of some of the acoustic devices had been challenged – the effectiveness for some being compromised by proximity to bushes and other objects which served to muffle noise.
Salvesen Steps
Richard Adlington provided a further update on the saga of the Steps. A temporary replacement structure was to be erected with work scheduled to start in April. The work to secure the ongoing commitment of the Council to the permanent DDA compliant boardwalk continued.
Planning Report
Peter Scott reported on a new application which had been just received for a new chicane to manage the flow of cyclists on the Cramond Brig. Consultation had taken place on proposals to widen the path in Davidsons Mains Park at the point at which it emerged on to the Queensferry Road – near the junction with Clermiston Road North. He also shared with those present his frustration at the decision taken in relation to the Essex Road development where the planning officer had summarily dismissed valid and compelling advice from one of his professional transport colleagues regarding access. A decision was awaited on the Barnton Avenue flats application on which there had been substantial representation regarding scale and the impact on the conservation area.
Councillors Report
Norman Work reported on the meeting he had brokered regarding the Salvesen steps. Along with the Vice-Convener of the Transport Committee, they had met with representatives of FRAW, the CBCC and the Cramond Association. The substance of the meeting is as described above. Alastair Shields reported on the concerns of residents living on and around Cramond Place as Marshall Construction progressed the build of the new Walkerhealthcare Home. Indiscriminate and thoughtless parking, noise, road surfaces let covered in mud were among the concerns. These issues had been taken up with the CEC and with the contractor. There had also been an incident were in pumping off excess water from the site they had caused black ice to form on the main carriageway and around the bus terminus. One of the residents had fallen injuring her arm.
Date of Next Meeting and Any Other Business
The next meeting was confirmed as being on Thursday 20 April 2017 where the key speaker would be David White who would be talking about Integrated Health and Social Care and local health services. The Chair stressed again the continuing efforts being made to engage with officials regarding the continuing risks to pedestrians and other road users seeking to cross the Whitehouse Road in the vicinity of Cramond Primary School during the set down and pick up times for school children. Tim Mitchell encouraged residents to participate in Neighbour Watch schemes.
Date of Next Meeting.
- Thursday 20 April 2017