Following his recent petition in the community about extending the Lothian Buses 25 route from Riccarton campus to Balerno, Tom Inglis met with First Buses in Livingston.

Last year’s controversial schools review saw the Liberal Democrats and opposition parties outvote the Council Administration in favour of an option to keep Currie HS, Woodlands School, Balerno HS and WHEC open. This option included the transfer of future pupils from Cherrytrees / Newmills and Kinleith Mills to Dean Park PS and Nether Currie PS respectively.

The Focus Team has been contacted by a number of residents concerned about the level of air pollution from gridlocked traffic along the Lanark Road in Juniper Green and Riccarton Mains Road in Currie (especially the stretch of road outside Currie Primary School). This is at its worst during peak traffic in the early morning and late afternoon, with the increase in Nitrous Oxide emissions and Diesel particulates posing a serious health concern

Our petition to extend the Lothian Buses 25 service to Balerno attracted 1,100 signatures, a massive number for this kind of campaign, which demonstrates the real depth of feeling about this issue in the community.

City of Edinburgh Council is going to consult on its next Local Development Plan, called City Plan 2030, in the first half of this year. This plan will determine what new houses are built in our area.

Our survey has revealed a preference for extending the 25 bus to Balerno via Curriehill Station.

Cala Homes owns or has an option to develop the majority of the land between Currie / Eastern Balerno and the railway line and has plans to build 1,000 units there.

They are currently seeking feedback from the community, and to have these developments included in the city’s next Local Development Plan.

An application to build 53 houses on Green Belt land off Glenbrook Road was submitted for appeal, (DPEA 230-2241), because the Council failed to determine the outcome in time.

An application to build 214 houses / flats, and 250 student bedrooms near the entrance to Heriot Watt University, also on Green Belt land, was rejected by a full Council meeting in April, but was also submitted for appeal, (DPEA 230-2246).

Lib Dem vote tips the balance in favour of keeping all four schools in Pentland Hills open.

After carefully considering the evidence and deputations from all parties, the Lib Dem group in Edinburgh Council supported Option 1 when voting in the Education, Children and Families committee, which has resulted in Currie High School, Woodlands School, Balerno High School and Wester Hailes Education Centre all staying open.

Pentland Hills is greatly under-served by public transport compared to other suburban areas in Edinburgh.

The withdrawal of multiple bus services in the past few years has seen more residents forced to use their cars, and major new developments at Kinleith Mill, Rivermill, Kingfisher Park and Ravelrig Heights are set to pile even more pressure onto Lanark Road West in future.