There’s a variety of hot topics in Edinburgh just now – from a potential car ban in Holyrood Park to a workplace parking levy and new plans for an entertainment arena at Edinburgh Park, not forgetting the pedestrianisation scheme for George Street and what it means for surrounding roads.
And there’s an opportunity for members of the public to have their say on all of these topics and more. Many of the consultations and the questionnaires where you can give your views can be found on the city council’s consultation hub. The Holyrood Park consultation is on the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) website. And the arena questionnaire is due to appear on the Edinburgh Park Arena website from December 4.
Scroll through these 10 issues and have your say.
5. Edinburgh Park Arena
Plans for a major arena at Edinburgh Park with capacity for 8,500 people have been submitted to the council by AEG, the company behind London’s O2 arena. The company has promised more details on the scheme at edinburghparkarena.com from Monday, November 27. And members of the public/stakeholders are invited to complete the questionnaire on the feedback page of the website from December 4. Deadline for questionnaire responses: January 16, 2024. Photo: supplied
6. Council house rents
Edinburgh council tenants are being consulted on the level of next year's rent rise and how the revenue should be invested. The council is presenting three options - a 4.1 per cent increase each year for the next five years, which would deliver 2,000 new social rented homes and upgrade 5,200 existing homes; a 5 per cent increase each year for the next five years to deliver 2,300 new social rented homes and upgrade 5,600 existing homes; or an 8.4 per cent increase each year for the next five years, delivering 3,560 new social rented homes and upgrading 12,400 existing homes. The three options would mean average weekly rents going up by £4.31, £5.25 or £8.83. Deadline: Sunday, December 17. Photo: Justin Spittle
7. Community council boundaries
Edinburgh has 46 community councils, but as the Capital's population increases, the city council says it needs to make sure the community councils are the right size to fairly represent the city's new and growing neighbourhoods. A survey has been launched on people's views about community councils and their boundaries. This is the first phase of a three-stage process. Phase two will ask for views on any proposed changes drawn up following feedback and phase three will give people an opportunity to make any last comments before the final scheme is adopted. Deadline: Friday, December 8. Photo: Edinburgh City Council
8. Workplace Parking Levy
Edinburgh is considering the possibility of introducing a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) - an annual charge on employers for the parking spaces they provided for staff - designed to discourage car commuting. The council is consulting the public on how such a charge should be set and what investment priorities should be. It is estimated a WPL in Edinburgh could raise more than £11 million per year. Deadline: February 6, 2024. Photo: Dan Phillips