City-wide updates:
At the Transport & Environment Committee, Claire Miller proposed a motion in response to the tragic death of Heather Stronach at the King’s Road junction, the second cyclist within two years to be killed in this location. The committee backed her motion to make it safe to cycle here.
Within the environment portfolio Gavin Corbett is a director of Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative which has successfully met its phase 2 funding target allowing more buildings to be tackled.
At the Council’s overarching Policy & Sustainability committee Steve Burgess secured support for an amendment that regretted that, although 21 months have elapsed since the council declared a Climate Emergency, no action plan to get to net zero carbon by 2030 is yet in place, and agreed that a date for production of the plan should be provided at the next meeting.
In Planning Committee, Chas Booth has been pushing to remove the need for planning permission for garden bike sheds.
Melanie Main took part in the integrated joint board’s first public debates and completed work on a strategic framework for carers support with committee approval.
And in the wards:
In Portobello/Craigmillar Mary Campbell has been working on road safety, setting up and chairing a meeting with council officers, councillors, Portobello Community Council and Spokes Porty, to talk through planned changes for the area and discuss any problem areas that need addressed.
In Craigentinny/Duddingston Alex Staniforth has helped Stapeley Neighbourhood Watch formalise its existence and go to the council for signage.
In Morningside Melanie Main has called for the community to come together to support quiet routes for walking and cycling.
Gavin Corbett has been taking up residents’ concerns about air pollution from the Network Rail yard at Slateford ‘Our house smells of diesel, and that’s with our windows shut’ – Neighbours demand action over Edinburgh train depot
In the City Centre ward, Claire Miller recently met with the Principal of George Heriot’s school on Lauriston Place to discuss reducing the number of journeys to school by car, and after finding out they do not have a travel plan provided them with resources and support to create one for the school.