Leith Central Community Council
Representing Albion, Bonnington, Easter Road, Hillside, Leith Walk, Pilrig, South Leith
- 🌱 Garden sitting unused? EGP match people who can’t manage their gardens with local volunteers keen to grow food. It’s a win-win: gardens cared for, food grown locally, neighbours connected. They’ve got Leith volunteers ready to go right now. 📧 info@edinburghgardenpartners.org.uk 📞 07704 185 726
- 🗳️ £eith Chooses Voting TODAY Help decide how £44K is spent — from youth activities & arts, to wellbeing, food, environment & practical local support. 📍 Leith Community Centre 12–3pm (quiet voting from 11am) If you live, work, study or volunteer in Leith, this is your vote. 👉 leithchooses.net/
- 🗳️ £eith Chooses Voting Day is this Saturday 24 January, come along to Leith Community Centre (12–3pm) and help decide which brilliant local projects get a share of this year’s funding. 🎨 Face painting for kids ☕ Free refreshments & snacks Drop in, cast your vote, and be part of shaping Leith.
- Meeting tonight, all welcome. 🗓 Mon 19 Jan • 7pm at Nelson Hall, McDonald Rd Library Policing, parks, planning, licensing, transport — plus an open forum to raise local issues. A great chance to hear what’s happening in Leith and have your say. Agenda & papers 👉 leithcentralcc.co.uk/reports/
- 📣 LCCC January meeting – Mon 19 Jan, 7pm, Nelson Hall, McDonald Rd Library Policing, parks, licensing, planning, transport + open forum. 🎇 New year, new faces welcome — we’re looking for new CC members. 📝 We also need extra paid minute-taking support. Come along or get in touch.
- 🚧 Powderhall / St Mark’s Path – Update Good news: the path will reopen from Fri 19 Dec to Sun 4 Jan while construction pauses, giving everyone on Quiet Route 20 a safer, more direct link over the festive period. Council still reviewing options for a better route during future closures.
- 🚶♀️ Elm Row: ideas for change After their recent walkabout, WELM (Windsor Street, Elm Row, Leopold Place & Montgomery Street West Association) has shared practical proposals to fix Elm Row’s long-standing problems with parking, loading and damaged pavements. Send comments by 3 Dec and we'll pass on
- Their proposals include: • Proper loading bays north & south with tougher surfacing • Clear kerb markings and no-parking zones • Reinstating herringbone parking on west side • New disabled bays and safer access to bus stops
- ☀️ Sun Tan Centres licence review — following public complaints, the Council is reviewing how tanning salons are licensed which could make a difference to safety, hygiene, and noise standards across Edinburgh. The consultation is open until 19 Feb 👉 consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/sun-tan-...
- 🚧 St Mark’s Path closure – update Many of you have been in touch about the sudden closure of St Mark’s Path at Powderhall — an important walking, wheeling and cycling link on Quiet Route 20. We’ve been following up to get clarity.
- The Council has now confirmed that: • the closure was formally approved for safety reasons, • it runs until 12 January 2026 (initially), and • options are being explored to re-open part of the route sooner or create a safe parallel path on the neighbouring site.
- Communication could have been better — the Council has acknowledged this — and a stakeholder group has now been formed to keep local reps updated.
- LCCC will keep in touch with the Council and contractor (CCG) as this develops, and share updates as soon as we have them. Thanks to everyone who’s raised concerns and shared experiences — your feedback really helps strengthen the case for safer, better-connected routes through Leith.
- 🚋 LCCC update: our response to the Granton–BioQuarter tram consultation The consultation has now closed, and we submitted a detailed response on behalf of Leith Central residents.
- 👉 Protecting bus journeys Even though the tram wouldn’t run through our area, construction could seriously affect the St Andrew Sq → Bridges → Newington corridor. We stressed that this needs proper modelling and safeguards.
- 👉 Keeping buses moving during works If the project goes ahead, bus access must be protected — priority lanes, maintained routes, or viable alternatives. Reliable public transport is essential for Leith.
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View full threadLCCC will continue to monitor the project and push for decisions that protect public transport, accessibility and local journeys.
- 🌱 Community planting day Join The Caley in Dalmeny Street Park on Fri 28 Nov, 10am–12pm for a hands-on planting session as part of the Linking Leith’s Parks project. All welcome — no experience needed. Sign up via the Caley or email learning@rchs.co.uk
- LCCC meeting tonight, 7pm, Nelson Hall, McDonald Rd Library. Policing, planning, transport, clean streets, parks, licensing + open forum for residents & businesses. Agenda: drive.google.com/file/d/1eYRS... If something in Leith is on your mind, this is the place to bring it. All welcome
- Elm Row still isn’t working as it should — unfinished works are causing confusion for everyone using it. LCCC is working with WELM and Cllr Jack Caldwell to press the Council for progress on safety, parking and the missing sculptures. Some fixes are due this month — we’ll share updates soon.
- LCCC Meeting – Mon 17 Nov, 7pm Nelson Hall, McDonald Rd Library. Open to all local residents & businesses — come hear updates & share views on: 🚓 Policing 🏗️ Planning 🚍 Transport 🌳 Parks 🍻 Licensing
- 🏘️ A new Living Rent report highlights the gap between policy and enforcement — with only 10 complaints recorded last year. With so many Leith residents in private lets, this matters. LCCC will keep pushing for safe, well-maintained homes for all. Full report 📄 livingrent.org/edinburghenforcement
- 🚦 Road casualties in Edinburgh North & Leith have fallen steadily over the past 2 decades 📉 LCCC’s been part of that progress — pushing for safer streets, fairer transport & better walking & cycling routes. Change is happening — Leith’s moving in the right direction.
- 📣 LCCC is seeking new members! It’s not all work, work, work — sometimes there’s music too 🎸 But we do get things done: housing, planning, parks and licensing. Join us and help shape Leith’s future 👉 engagement@leithcentralcc.co.uk
- 📣 Last weekend to have your say Help shape Leith’s future — the Local Place Plan survey closes soon. 🏘️🚲🌳 Share your views on housing, transport, greenspaces & more: 👉 www.ealaimpacts.co.uk/leith-place-plan Every voice counts.
- 🚫 No more PBSAs in Leith. Leith Central Community Council has agreed its final position on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). Leith already has 2/3 of all PBSA beds in Edinburgh — 6,332 out of 9,873.
- Yet Leith has no university campus — and gains little direct benefit. Meanwhile, PBSAs take up land that could be used for affordable homes for families and key workers, and they add pressure on local services and transport.
- We believe this level of PBSA development is now out of proportion and unsustainable. Leith remains proud to welcome students as part of our diverse community — but balance matters.
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View full threadWe’ll keep working with other community councils, housing organisations and Edinburgh Council to make sure Leith’s voice is heard in the city’s housing strategy. 📄 Read our full position: tinyurl.com/jvntj3cm
- 📋✨ LCCC seeks a Minutes Secretary (paid £60/month) to attend monthly meetings (3rd Mon, 7–9pm, not July) & produce minutes. Ideal: strong listening & writing, detail-oriented, interested in local affairs, familiar with Word. Email engagement@leithcentralcc.co.uk
- 🎶 Meas Mór – Kabin Crew x Tinderbox Collective Tha seo glè mhath! 🙌 Young musicians from Leith & Cork came together online to co-write Meas Mór — an Irish–Scots Gaelic rap celebrating language, culture & friendship. Big respect tae the Taobh na Pàirce weans in our LCCC area! 🎥 youtu.be/whwQfPVOFjI
- 🏘️ Affordable Housing at the Red Sandstone Block 2 (market-rent) is complete, but Block 1 – the affordable units – remains vacant. LCCC has asked the developer & planning authority about the phasing plan, Section 75, and compliance with Edinburgh Affordable Housing Guidance. 💬 What’s your view?
- Reposted by Leith Central Community CouncilThe Trust are calling an EROSION EMERGENCY — asking the council @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social to re-bank, re-seed and re-turf CALTON HILL between now and the end of the year. @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social caltonhilltrust.org/wp-content/u...
- 🧳 LCCC has adopted a new policy on Short Term Let planning applications. ⛔ We’ll normally object where STLs affect housing supply, shared access, or local amenity, or where they continue without proper consent. 👉 leithccc.wordpress.com/wp-content/u... Your view❓
- Reminder: LCCC meeting tonight, 7 PM at Nelson Hall 🕖📍. Updates on policing, planning, transport, parks & more, plus an open forum for residents & businesses. Full agenda 👉 tinyurl.com/7ssjetye . All welcome!
- Reposted by Leith Central Community CouncilEROSION in 2025 worst for many years — with the loss of whole stretches of top soil. This is our biggest problem. We can pick up litter in a moment, we can move portaloos in a day, we _could_ close road access to motor vehicles whenever we chose — but erosion takes time & careful work to remedy. 1/
- 🌱💐 Brunswick Street planters are thriving thanks to residents & anonymous donors – true community spirit! But is it sustainable that locals must carry the load (and the water)? What do you think?
- Community action in Leith makes a difference! 🛴🚍 A resident reached out to LCCC after their child was refused entry with a scooter at a remote stop. Thanks to our help and their persistence, Lothian Buses has updated their policy ✅ More info & join EBUG: edinburghbususers.group
- Next LCCC meeting: Mon 15 Sept, 7pm at Nelson Hall, McDonald Road Library. Open to all residents & businesses — hear updates on local issues + share your views in the open forum. Agenda/papers 👉 bit.ly/LCCCpapers
- 🏘️ Short-term lets in Leith Leith Central CC is finalising our policy on short-term lets 🏘️. Join the discussion at our next meeting: Mon 15 Sept, 7pm, McDonald Rd Library. All welcome. #LeithCentral #STL
- A late-hours licence application has been lodged for Pepe’s Piri Piri, 38–39 Elm Row. Hours requested: Sun–Thurs: 11pm–1am Fri–Sat: 11pm–2am Deadline for representations: 24 September Write directly to the Council’s Licensing Service, or respond here and we’ll gather community views together.