Edinburgh council's scrapping of Portobello CPZ could restore trust and pave way for return of community council
The decision to scrap the proposed Controlled Parking Zone in Portobello could pave the way for the re-formation of the area's community council, opponents of the CPZ have claimed.
They hope the surprise rejection last month of the plans to introduce year-round parking restrictions, residents' parking permits and pay-and-display public parking may help to rebuild the community's trust in the city council.
Portobello community council - previously one of the most active in the city - went out of existence - was dissolved after insufficient nominations were received at the elections last March.
Ania Lewandowska-Craig, a leading member of Portobello and Joppa Residents & Businesses Against CPZ, said people had been delighted at the decision to reject the CPZ.
She said: "I'm hoping the faith in democracy was somewhat restored in this community.
"This is a well-organised community - we've saved Bellfield and reopened the town hall - so the will to engage is here.
"It was really sad to see our community council dissolved because people just didn't want to get involved because they didn't feel they could make a difference.
"Perhaps we will have a community council again and people will re-engage with the city council because I think the problem was there - they just never seemed to listen."
Portobello/Craigmillar Conservative councillor Tim Jones blames the failure to form a new community council last year on the city council's attitude over both the CPZ plans and the controversial closure of Brunstane Road, a hot issue in the area.
He said the council had ignored residents' views, driving them to disengage.
He said at the time: "The closure of Brunstane Road has destroyed public confidence in local democracy. Despite three public consultations, the overwhelming majority of residents opposed the closure. Their objections were dismissed, and the council forced the decision through. The result? People no longer see the point in engaging with a system that disregards them."
And he said residents feared the council's consultation on the CPZ was just going through the motions.
He said at the time: "The message from residents is clear: if the council refuses to listen, they see no point in engaging with local democracy at all.
"This is a tragic outcome — and the responsibility lies squarely with the Labour-led administration. The deafening silence of every other elected official only compounds the sense of abandonment felt by this community."
But now Cllr Jones believes the scrapping of the CPZ plans will go some way to mend fences between the people of Portobello and the city council.
He said: "I am delighted that the CPZ has been thrown out. The response I received from residents was overwhelming. I stood with residents throughout this process when they felt ignored. The decision is an important step towards rebuilding trust between community and council.
"I now hope this will allow a new community council to be re-elected in Portobello so residents finally have a proper voice in decisions that affect their community."
Council leader Jane Meagher, who also represents Portobello/Craigmillar, said she had lived in Portobello for 40 years and believed the reasons for the recent non-formation of a community council were multi-faceted.
But she said: “I hope the CPZ result helps reassure residents that councillors are listening to them when considering the best course of action.”
In order to re-form a community council, residents need to present a petition to the city council signed by at least 20 people and then there needs to be a minimum number of people - in Portobello's case, seven - willing to serve on it.