Meeting Minutes
Cramond, Barnton and Cammo Community Council
Cramond Kirk Halls – Thursday, 26th June 2025 – 7:00 pm
Chair: John Howison (standing in for John Loudon)
1. Apologies and Resignations
Apologies: John Loudon and Grant McCulloch
Resignation: Nikki Archer resigned due to work pressure. She may consider returning after retirement.
2. Approval of Minutes from 22nd May 2025
Motion: Moved by Percy, seconded by Ian
Conflict of Interest: None declared
3. Reports and Updates from Councillors
AMA Campus Update: Councillors absent, no public progress reported. The second exhibition is overdue and the Campus Community group has not received the bimonthly report.
4. Airport Noise Action Plan Update
The airport has received comments on the draft noise action plan. A meeting on June 6th discussed the continued growth of flights, especially night flights, and the weakness of the draft plan.
The Scottish Government and Edinburgh City Council continue to support aircraft growth for economic reasons. Night flights by budget airlines are increasing without clear benefit to Scotland’s economy.
Noise limits are outdated and fines remain low (£1,000 per violation). The airport is owned by Vinci, seeks to maximise growth, and has no inherent limit on flights, with plans for a second runway.
The Noise Action Plan is a statutory duty updated every five years. The current draft focuses on mitigation, such as sound insulation, rather than reducing night flights. Maps provided were unreadable. New flights arriving between 1am and 3am are being announced.
The draft plan was criticised by both the Community Council and the Edinburgh Airport Noise Advisory Board.
Key Actions:
If the revised plan is unsatisfactory, the Community Council will call for formal designation of Edinburgh Airport.
Alec Cole Hamilton will contact SPICe to confirm who designates Scottish airports and will ask a parliamentary question on designation and night flight regulation.
Peter Scott has assessed night flights and will make this data available.
Adam will publish the data and meeting notes online.
5. Police Report
Road Safety: Speed checks continue on Whitehouse Road. The 20 mph zones are enforced by the City Council unless limits are seriously exceeded. A request has been made for Queensferry Road speed checks since its reduction from 40 to 30 mph.
Quad and Off-Road Bikes: A significant issue in Cammo Walk, Barnton Grove, Barnton Park Avenue, Barnton Avenue West, and Cramond Village. Police generally cannot pursue due to safety risks. CCTV and drones are used for retrospective identification. Many electric bikes are bought new rather than stolen.
Anti-social Behaviour: Three incidents reported (trespassing, suspected drinking, nuisance). Regular patrols are taking place. One vandalism incident involving spray paint was recorded.
Reporting: The Police Scotland “Contact Us” system online is the most efficient method for reporting crime. Reports with footage or photos receive direct upload links. Residents are encouraged to report all dangerous off-road bike activity and red-light violations. The Queensferry Road and Whitehouse Road junction CCTV is live-monitored and can be checked if the time of an incident is reported.
6. Secretary’s Report / Use of AI
Adam reported on using AI to prepare meeting notes and detailed reports. His focus is on maintaining pressure on active travel issues, particularly children’s safety to and from school.
7. Active Travel
The City Council has invited the Community Council to a meeting on July 9th to discuss the Cammo Meadows to Barnton Avenue route. Adam will attend.
Earlier proposals were inadequate. Current plans only extend to the National Cycle Network at Barnton Avenue West and do not connect to the school. This is seen as unacceptable following the Thomas Wong incident.
The Transport and Environment Committee has scheduled the project but has paused the school connection. It was suggested that the Safety Action Group take a deputation to the Committee, which is often more effective than written submissions.
8. Funding and Projects
The Community Council has supported projects such as the Heritage Trail, interpretation boards, and Cammo Estate maps. Funding often goes through the Council to save on VAT. Direct raising and spending by the Community Council is limited by VAT and permissions.
The Cramond Collaborative Group exists to coordinate local efforts. Lack of officer continuity remains a problem, particularly around Harbour access.
Gordon Mina will investigate how other associations fund projects and report back.
9. Harbour Access and Risk
The Harbour promenade is Council land but not an adopted road. Risks from vehicles, including scooters and quad bikes, remain unresolved since 2014. Internal Council communications on this issue have been withheld.
10. Roman Bathhouse 50th Anniversary
There is enthusiasm for celebrating the 50th anniversary of excavations in 2028. The site is fragile, needs fencing, and currently has no funding. Any significant development requires Historic Scotland permission. The walled garden within the site belongs to developers but cannot be built on. The focus will be on securing the site within two years.
11. Planning Paper Presentation
The Community Council has a statutory duty to reflect community views in planning matters.
Development Planning involves long-term policies such as National Planning Framework 4 and City Plan 2030.
Development Management concerns day-to-day planning applications.
Major applications require consultation and public exhibitions. Weekly planning lists are reviewed for relevance.
Householder Applications: Concerns were raised about publishing details and causing neighbour disputes. A vote was taken. By seven votes to two, the Council agreed to publish basic details with some limited additional information but not specific objections or support. This will be reviewed later.
Decisions:
A volunteer is needed to help with social media postings.
Weekly applications and decisions will be published on Facebook and the website.
Comments on posts will be disabled over the summer.
12. Community Council Feedback on Polling Places
The City Council is consulting on polling stations.
Residents north of Barnton Avenue and Brae Park Road will vote at Cramond Kirk Halls.
Residents south of these roads (Cammo Meadows, Barnton Park, Strathalmond, Braehead) will vote at City Gates Church.
The Community Council agreed to support these changes.
13. Meeting Close
The Chair apologised for overrunning.
Thanks were extended to Adam for his papers and to Peter for his presentation.
Next Meeting: Thursday 18th September, following the summer break.