November 2026 news from Councillor Neil Ross

4 Nov 2026

New Library Opening and Closing Times

From 30 November 2026 there will be a change in the opening and closing hours of all libraries to bring continuity across the whole estate. All the changes are listed below. There is more information about libraries here.

Harrison Road Bridges project update

Here is the latest Council officer update, with expected completion by 15 December.

“The concrete deck pour on Harrison Road Bridge has been completed successfully. This marks the third concrete pour, following the recent completion of the first two pours for the east footway beams A1 and A2. This is a major milestone in the construction programme and an important step towards reopening the bridge as these completed activities represent substantial progress in the deck replacement works.

Since my last update, the following activities have also been completed to date:

Setting out and installation of 24 no. elastomeric bearings
Preparatory works for the beam and deck slab concrete pours
Reinforcement installation for beams A1 and A2.
Reinforcement installation for the deck slab, including transverse reinforcement through the precast beams.
Diaphragm reinforcement installation.
Removal of the falsework system below supporting the beams A1 and A2.
Removal of temporary works above the bridge supporting some utilities.
Installation of a steel trough as an additional measure to protect a Scottish Water asset.

Following the necessary concrete curing period, the focus will move to waterproofing, buried expansion joints, ballast walls, removal of temporary works, anchored rods to tie in the edge beams, new drainage and resurfacing. Each of these activities brings us closer to reopening, and we are continuing to coordinate with our contractor to maintain momentum through the next stages of the project.

At the canal bridge, preparations are underway to pour the blinding concrete next week ahead of installing the precast Trief kerbs. Once installed, the Trief kerbs will protect the footways over the bridge from accidental wheel loading, with the additional benefit of contributing to traffic calming. Additionally, signage will be installed to reflect the new 7.5t weight restriction that will be imposed over Harrison Road Canal Bridge. The TRO process was successful with no objections and the Order will be prepared by the Traffic Orders Team who have indicated that the Order will come into effect w/e 27/11/26.

We are currently anticipating completion of the works on 15^th December. We will continue to monitor progress against the accepted programme, including weather conditions and dependencies between the remaining activities, and communicate any changes that may affect this date.”

Astley Ainslie Place Brief consultation

The Council’s draft Place Brief for Astley Ainslie, which offers a vision for the site, is open for feedback. It has been prepared collaboratively, with regular input from the NHS and the Astley Ainslie Community Trust (AACT). The vision is defined by a series of diagrams and principles that are themed in accordance with the "Six Qualities of a Successful Placemaking" set out in National Planning Framework 4: Healthy, Pleasant, Connected, Distinctive, Sustainable and Adaptable. The deadline for feedback is 11 November and the consultation can be found here. AACT is holding its AGM on Tuesday 17 November at 7.00pm in the Eric Liddell Community.

Morningside Road pavement and crossing works dates

Works have started on improvements to the Steel’s Place raised crossing and an upgraded pedestrian crossing nearby on Morningside Road. This is expected to continue till around 11 December, to be followed by the resurfacing of Falcon Road West and Falcon Road, between Falcon Road West and Falcon Avenue, until Wednesday 23 December. Upgrading of the widened pavement opposite Waitrose, and installation of a new signalised pedestrian crossing is scheduled for February and March.

Police advice on home security

After a number of recent burglaries in Morningside, the local police issued the following security advice.

With the advent of the darker nights, Police Scotland suggests that you give your house a security health check. Take a good look at your house and try to work out how you would get into your house without a key. If you have an alarm, do you use it every time you go out? Have you recorded all of the serial numbers for your electrical equipment? Are your valuables easily accessible?

The following tips could help prevent your house from becoming a statistic:

Ensure your locks are tested to British Standard or meets the needs of your insurance company.
If you are out whilst it is dark, consider fitting light timers or leaving a light on.
Fit and use outside security lights, either motion sensor or dusk to dawn – this comes on automatically when it is dark.
Window locks should be fitted where appropriate and used all the time. Do not leave the key in the lock.
Mark all the electrical equipment with an ultraviolet marker pen or register at www.immobilise.com
At the front of the house hedges or trees should be trimmed or cropped so as not to provide cover for thieves.
Laptop computers and mobile phones are favourite housebreaking targets. These should be locked away or removed from view. Add tracking software to smart phones, laptops and Ipads to aid in the recovery of these items
Consider investing in a safe or strong box for storage of cash and valuables. A safe should be securely fixed to the fabric of the building and should only be used for short-term storage of cash.
Consider installing an intruder alarm system. More information can be found on alarm systems and monitoring at www.nsi.org.uk or www.ssaib.org
Secure Shed and all tools that may be used to force entry.
Consider the use of a shed alarm, these can be purchased at a number of police stations.

If you see anyone acting suspiciously near to your premises, please contact the police immediately with as detailed a description as possible of any person or vehicle involved. Please call 999 if an emergency and urgent police assistance is required or 101 to report the matter to the police.

Further advice from the Police on housebreaking and home security is available here.

Short Term Let Licensing

Due to a ‘loophole’ in current legislation, an individual can legally apply and be granted a secondary short-term let (STL) licence, and potentially the renewal of that licence, without either 1) planning consent or 2) a formal planning decision that it is not required, as long as a planning application has been made. This is down to a particular condition in the licence called Mandatory Condition 13 (MC13).

This is causing a degree of confusion amongst operators who, despite having planning applications rejected, keep resubmitting to comply with MC13, giving rise to concern in communities where STL planning applications have been rejected but the operation continues.

Residents living next door to secondary STL properties regularly express concerns about this loophole and the impact it is having on their community. As a result, Neil and his Lib Dem colleague Councillor Hal Osler, tabled a motion to persuade the Full Council to ask the Council Leader to write to the First Minister to close this loophole by amending MC13 and requiring applicants to have planning permission in place (or reason not required) before a secondary STL licence can be granted.

Neil says “The STL legislation as it stands is not fit for purpose and needs to be amended so that communities and operators fully understand where secondary lets are acceptable and where they are not. I hope the First Minister will look at our suggestions and provide the clarity that everyone is asking for.