November 2025 news from Councillor Neil Ross
Greenbank/Meadows quiet route update
At last month’s meeting of Morningside Community Council, the Council’s project manager for the Quiet Route announced that January is the new target for implementation of the agreed changes.
He also outlined that, following implementation, the ETRO process will start with six months of feedback from residents to the Council. During this period there will be monitoring of traffic, both vehicles and bicycles, on the route. Thereafter, a Council report will be presented to the Council’s Transport Committee, at which a decision may be taken to either make no changes or to implement option 1 or option 2.
Another 5G mast for Morningside Station?
A planning application has been submitted for a proposed telecoms mast and associated cabinets 40 Metres West Of 1 Cluny Avenue Edinburgh. The location is on the pavement at the north corner of the junction of Cluny Avenue and Morningside Road. The 20m monopole mast would have six antennas and three cabinets plus ancillary equipment. The reference number is 25/05114/FUL and the deadline for comments is Friday 21 November. Further details are available on the Council’s Planning portal here.
Canal Bridges at Harrison Road and Yeaman Place
In a further update to councillors on the Harrison Road canal bridge, Council engineers have confirmed that they are investigating the implications of a weight restriction on the wider network, i.e. which other bridges will heavy vehicles use. I have asked for an explanation of the factors behind the weight restriction decision. Concerns have also been raised about the Yeaman Place bridge over the canal, so I have asked for reassurances on its condition.
Canal Society Flotilla of Lights & AGM
On a more positive note, the Union Canal Society’s annual ‘Flotilla of Lights’ takes place on Saturday 8 November from 4 to 8pm with a flotilla of canal-boats along the canal. It should pass by the Ashley Terrace Boathouse (which will also be lit up!) around 6.30pm. The Society’s AGM is on Sunday 2 November 2-4pm at Merchiston Tennis & Bowling Club. More information is available here.
Cargo bikes available in Bruntsfield at Banzai Library
Banzai Bikes is a free-to-use e-cargo bike library for the wider area of south and south west (central) Edinburgh, set up late last year as a community service by Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative. If you are interested and would like to join the library and try out an e-cargo bike, there is more information here.
Tram consultation closes on 18 November
The Council’s consultation on its unfunded north/south tram extension project closes on 17 November and can be accessed here.
City Plan 2040 – What makes a good place?
The Council has started work on the next local development plan, called City Plan 2040, and wants your views on the good and bad points of the area you live in to help answer these questions - What should the Council plan for? What needs to be protected? What might be needed? The consultation can be found here.
Visit to Seafield Waste Water Treatment plant
Earlier this week I visited Seafield with a few Lib Dem councillor colleagues to learn what happens to all the waste water collected from Edinburgh’s sewers. We were shown the various water separation and cleansing processes, the grit collected from the roads and compost produced as an end product. I was most surprised by vast quantity of wet wipes (8 to 12 skips full per week) – see photo below. Consequently, we were told “Do not flush wet wipes. Instead, put them in the bin.” The plant’s electricity consumption could be reduced by almost 50% if it didn’t have to deal with them. There is more information here.
Tackling speeding cyclists in Braidburn Valley Park
In response to concerns raised by local residents about speeding cyclists in Braidburn Valley Park, I contacted the Council’s Parks team to ask for additional signage. They offered to add ‘SLOW’ markings on the main path and I asked them to work with the park’s Friends group to determine the most suitable locations.
Prioritise people crossing side roads
“Since 2022, the Highway Code says drivers should give way to people waiting to cross side roads. But this isn't happening.
Side road zebra crossings are a cheap and simple way to fix this. They are already used across Europe. When tested in UK cities, more drivers stopped and disabled people felt safer. Councils should be allowed to install them more widely.”
This quote is taken from a recent Sustrans report ‘Transforming Mobility: Including disabled people in transport planning’. It highlights five sensible proposals for improving the pedestrian experience.
The Council is currently considering whether to run a trial of low-cost, continental-style zebra crossings on private land. It should run the trial and make the case for side road zebra crossings to the UK Government.