Five things you need to know today

Have your say on new murals

Leith Links Community Council ask for help in responding to the planning application for new murals along the wall of South Leith Parish Church (in particular this one), which would replace the historical images of Leith’s seafaring history. The community council says it is not impressed and asks that anyone interested comments on the planning application before 24 May. Use the links in the community council post at www.leithlinkscc.org.uk

Roseburn Path Meeting

Whether the tram should use the Roseburn path or an onroad route via Orchard Brae and Dean Bridge will be discussed at the June Spokes meeting. The four speakers will present each case, then the pros and cons of each option for cycling and walking, and for wider public health, followed by a one-hour QA and panel discussion.

Spokes says it has always supported cycling “as part of an environmentally sustainable transport and access strategy” not purely cycling for its own sake. A spokesperson said: “We are very supportive of public transport, walking, wheeling, reduced car use, and reducing the climate-crisis impacts of transport. It is therefore important to consider all aspects of both options, although cycling issues will of course weigh significantly in our discussions.

“Very briefly and purely from the cycling perspective, onroad tram would mean some very difficult cycling conditions (notably, tramlines on the already narrow Dean Bridge), whilst offroad tram would reduce the ambience and ecology of the nature-filled Roseburn path and might need path restrictions such as pinch-points at some bridges.

“Our public meeting on Wednesday 5 June gives you the chance to find out more about the arguments, and to start formulating your thoughts in advance of the forthcoming Council public consultation.”

Speakers

• The case for tram using Roseburn path and not using the road route
  • Lesley Hinds, Former Transport Convenor & North Edinburgh resident.
• The case for tram using the road route and not using Roseburn path
  • Euan Baxter, Save Roseburn Path
• Cycling aspects – pros and cons of each option
  • Alex Robb, Spokes Planning Group
• Population health – pros and cons of each option
  • Adrian Davis, Professor of Transport and Health, Edinburgh Napier University
• …then our always-inspiring one-hour panel QA – your chance to interrogate and challenge the speakers
  • Chair: Johanna Boyd, Scottish solicitor specialised in planning and local government law, CEO of Planning Aid Scotland, and former leader of Stirling Council.

Arrangements

• Where Augustine United Church 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
• Date Wednesday 5 June
• Time  Starts 7.30pm, Ends 9.30.  Doors open 6.45 for coffee, stalls and chat, including a special stall to join Spokes or renew your membership
• Questions Questions for the panel, can be emailed (at least a day in advance) to spokes@spokes.org.uk. However, questions in person from audience members are likely to have greatest priority on the night
• Online We hope to live broadcast on our youtube channel – confirmation nearer the time – and make the recording available soon after
• Social media If tweeting/posting about the meeting, use hashtag #SpokesMtg