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.

The Focus Team have 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).

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.

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.

Controversial planning applications to build houses off Glenbrook Road in Balerno and near Heriot Watt University have been rejected.

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

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