Edinburgh east-west cycleway shows why decision-making system must be quicker – Adam McVey

Edinburgh Council is looking to build on the approaches taken during the pandemic to speed up progress in the Capital, writes Adam McVey.
The council wants to make involuntary rough sleeping a thing of the past (Picture: John Devlin)The council wants to make involuntary rough sleeping a thing of the past (Picture: John Devlin)
The council wants to make involuntary rough sleeping a thing of the past (Picture: John Devlin)

There has been an unprecedented level of change to council services and support required within the community since the crisis began in March.

Our care staff have been doing an amazing job on the frontline supporting people who need it most. We have sourced additional temporary accommodation so that we now have enough capacity to make sure nobody needs to sleep rough, and we’ll continue to work with our partners to make involuntary rough sleeping a thing of the past.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The third sector has been working hand-in-hand with the council delivering lifeline support to help the most vulnerable in our city. The council has administered £66m in support for over 5,600 local businesses, and we’ve also started implementing street closures to support physical distancing.

Cllr Adam McVey is the leader of Edinburgh City CouncilCllr Adam McVey is the leader of Edinburgh City Council
Cllr Adam McVey is the leader of Edinburgh City Council

This week will see the council’s overarching policy-making committee start back up, meeting remotely. There are more changes on the agenda, taking forward a bold plan to prioritise our public spaces for people once restrictions are lifted. We’ve seen the transformative effect this approach has had when implemented in other cities and from the schemes taken forward in Edinburgh so far and we’ll be building on this approach. There’s also good news for people in the South West as the Committee will discuss the community asset transfer moving ahead for the former public convenience in Juniper Green to Pentland Community Space.

The East-West cycleway is again on the agenda but building is yet to start. More than most, this example shows why councils need to be able to move to deliver projects without being tangled up in long processes. This project was agreed by all parties three-and-a-half years ago and it has been significantly held up by the elongated traffic regulation process. The system needs to be more fleet of foot if we’re going to be able to deliver long-term change across the Capital and we’re speaking to the Government and other bodies about how that can best be done.

We know we won’t always have political consensus. And I hear loud and clear some of the concerns and aspirations from residents. During a Netflix binge I watched a documentary on Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the US Supreme Court Justice. In it, she talked about a legal case opening up a school to female applicants and the concerns many had at the time. “Try it,” she said. There are always reasons not to make progress if you want to find them. My job is finding ways to make progress, not stop it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There are two other reports that I feel are worth highlighting here. One is the housing policy for care leavers, which will help any young looked-after person get access to social housing if they can’t remain with their foster families. Councillors have heard passionate contributions from young people on the challenges they face and this is another small way that we can support them.

The other report is also housing related – our domestic abuse housing policy. Charities say they are receiving more calls about abuse during the lockdown. What everyone needs to know, is that the council is here for you if you’re experiencing it.

The barriers to leaving an abusive partner can seem enormous. “Where will my children live?” is a crucial question many will ask. It’s so important that victims of domestic abuse know they have a choice. Violence is never ok. Not when it’s a colleague. Not when it’s a stranger. Not when it’s a loved one. Visit the council’s webpage on domestic abuse for information on the help available to you or ring us on Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324. We’ll be there for you.

Cllr Adam McVey is the leader of Edinburgh City Council

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.