September 2020

Fairmilehead Community Council - Information Bulletin – September 2020

1 Scottish Water Trees

In April this year the Community Council was informed by Scottish Water that they had a tree survey undertaken in the area outside their office as a tree had blown over. Colin Anderson, the Planning Officer obtained a copy of the Tree Survey for information. Scottish Water also informed the local councilors and adjoining residents. Due to lockdown nothing further was done at that time.

We have now been notified that Scottish Water have submitted an application to Scottish Forestry to fell the remaining trees and replace them with a variety of broad leafed trees. A link to the felling licence application which includes details of the replacement trees is within the second e-mail.

“Hello,

I hope I find you well at this difficult time across the world.

I am emailing to let you know about some work we are undertaking at the Scottish Water Fairmilehead Office, 55 Buckstone Terrace, Edinburgh.

As I’m sure you are aware there is a mature woodland, made up of mostly conifer trees, which lies between our office and the A702 (Buckstone Terrace). In late February a large tree in this woodland blew over in the office car park, which could have hit a member of our staff. It also struck and damaged part of the office building.

As part of the review of this incident we have had a professional tree survey carried out by a specialist independent arboriculturalist. This survey reported on the condition, health and safety of the trees in this woodland. The findings of this survey are that eleven (11) trees within the FMH plantation to be felled immediately on Health and Safety grounds, while the remaining trees - approximately 100-150 – should also be removed but can be left until out-with the bird nesting season.

We are therefore writing to let you know that we will be removing 11 trees in the woodland week commencing the 20th April (this week) as this is considered essential emergency work. Further to this we have taken the decision to remove all the existing conifer trees between Buckstone Terrace and our office in early Autumn 2020. This makes up approximately 90% of the woodland.

We realise this is not ideal and we do not take this decision lightly however our foremost concern is the health & safety of the general public and our employees. We need to take this action to protect our people in the office and members of the public on the adjacent pavement and road.

Our office is currently closed to all but essential workers due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. As the spread of Covid-19 develops, we're continuing to work around the clock to keep customers supplied with water and treat the country's waste water, while maintaining the health of our employees and our customers.

We will ensure we are complying with Scottish Government Covid-19 guidelines at this time. We are aware that it is bird nesting season and are agreeing the necessary licences to ensure our work is carried out with as little impact as possible.

Recognising the substantial visual impact of this work on our closest neighbours we have written to approx. 60 properties near the office to let them know and attached is a copy of the letter. We will be in further contact with neighbours and local community stakeholders regarding the plans for the remaining trees. We would like to reassure you that we will be replacing the old trees that are removed with a mix of new, possibly broad leafed trees more suitable for this location.

Once we have a more detailed plan for the work we will write to you again and will also put information on our website – www.scottishwater.co.uk

I reiterate that we don’t take this decision lightly and would prefer not to be having to fell trees, however given the risk identified from the health of the trees we believe this is the right course of action. The good news is that we will replant and in the long term there will be a new healthy woodland at this location.

Kind regards

Scott

“Dear all,

I would like to update you on Scottish Water’s proposals for the woodland in the grounds of our office, which we have been in correspondence with you about previously.

I can confirm that a felling licence has been submitted to Scottish Forestry and is now available for comment on their web portal until 15th September.

As part of the application for this we have produced a replanting plan for the area. An overview of these plans along with links to the application portal and a pdf of detailed replanting plan can now be viewed on our website here: www.scottishwater.co.uk/fairmileheadtrees .

We have written to neighbouring residents to advise them of this and share this information directly. This email is being issued to all elected officials for the area as well as the local community council.

We recognise the substantial visual impact of this work on our closest neighbours and we hope that the community will understand the need for this work and will be happy with the proposed replanting plans. The aim of the choice of trees to be replanted is that will create a more attractive and sustainable landscape that will enhance the habitat biodiversity and is more appropriate for the urban setting than the current commercial style plantation.

Kind regards

Scott Scott Fraser Corporate Affairs Regional Manager (South East)”

2 Re-Opening of Libraries

Norman

I’m afraid, again, Colinton, Oxgangs and Morningside not on the first phase of a Council list...

Regards Jason

Councillor J G Rust Colinton/ Fairmilehead Ward

Subject: Plans for Reopening Libraries

Dear Councillors,

Please see the information below that I am circulating on behalf of Paul McCloskey, Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager.

Dear Councillors,

I wanted to update you on our reopening plans for libraries.

The first phase of opening will see a selection of library buildings across the city reopening on Tuesday 13 October, offering access to browsing and lending, computers and internet and other library services. As you might expect, numbers within buildings will be limited, social distancing measures will be in place and some services will only be available by booking in advance.

The 6 libraries are Central, Kirkliston, McDonald Road, Fountainbridge, Stockbridge and Newington.

I will work with our Lifelong Learning Service colleagues to develop a fuller briefing note for you in the next few days, with more detail including the rationale for selecting these locations.

kind regards Paul

Paul Mc Closkey | Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager (Community Learning & Development and Libraries) | Schools and Lifelong Learning | Communities and Families | Level 1.1 Waverley Court, East Market Street Edinburgh EH8 8BG

3 Forthcoming Scottish Gas Works in Cluny Area

Dear everyone

I am writing to you with an update on the next phase of our project in the Corrennie Drive area of Edinburgh.

As part of our replacement project in Corrennie Drive we are required to close Braid Road at the junction of Cluny Gardens to install a new gas main. This pipe will head along Cluny Gardens towards Hermitage Gardens. During this time Braid Road and Cluny Gardens will be closed as far back as Hermitage Gardens to through vehicular traffic. Access for residents will be maintained. Local diversion routes will be in operation and parking will be suspended throughout our works.

This section of works was planned to commence prior to lockdown and has been carefully planned alongside the City of Edinburgh Council who have plans to resurface some of the surrounding areas. By carrying out our works now this will prevent the need to excavate on a newly laid surface.

Our essential work will ensure the local community receives a continued safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come. We’re working closely with Scottish Government to make sure we carry out our project in line with all current coronavirus safety guidance.

We’re looking to start this phase of work in the Braid Road/Cluny Gardens area of Edinburgh on Monday the 21 September 2020. Our project will be carried out by our contractor George Ritchie, Utilities on our behalf and will last approximately 3-4 weeks.

To ensure everyone’s safety, and to help carryout these essential works it is still necessary to close Cluny Gardens between Comiston Road and Braid Avenue. Braid Road will also require to be closed at the junction with Cluny Gardens. Local access will be maintained for residents.

Parking suspensions will also be in operation during this time and will affect: • Cluny Gardens. • Nile Grove (to help bus diversion route). • Hermitage Terrace (to help bus diversion route). • Braid Avenue (to help bus diversion route). • Hermitage Gardens between Cluny Gardens & Cluny Drive.

We wish to assure you that work will progress as quickly as possible and we will make every effort to minimise any inconvenience caused by our works.

We have extra safety precautions in place to protect our colleagues and our communities from the virus. Our colleagues will be keeping to social distancing guidelines on our sites and we’d ask communities to keep their distance too. There’s more information about our coronavirus response on our website: sgn.co.uk/coronavirus

We’re writing to residents and other local stakeholders to make them aware of our project and explain the details of our work. Please feel free to also share this information with anyone you think may be impacted by our project.

If you have any specific enquiries about this project, please call us on 0800 912 1700 and our customer service team will be happy to help.

Thank you for your support during these challenging times and if there’s anything else you need please let me know.

Kind regards

Caroline

Caroline Lawrie, Stakeholder and Community Manager T: +44 (0)131 469 1701 (: 31701) M: +44 (0)7747 7577 99 E: [email protected] SGN, Axis House, 5 Lonehead Drive, Newbridge, Edinburgh,EH28 8TG sgn.co.uk Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @SGNgas

Smell gas? Call 0800 111 999 Find out how to protect your home from carbon monoxide

4 Spaces for People

Braid Rd / Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route / Comiston Road – Briefing Note 1 September 2020

Background As part of the Council’s Spaces for People programme three individual related projects were developed, each aiming to remove through traffic from local streets, benefit pedestrians and enable safe cycling from the south of the city to the city centre.

1. Braid Road Closure (initially introduced as a Spaces for Exercise project) 2. Comiston Road Segregated Cycleways 3. Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route

Braid Road Closure has been in place since early May. Various parties have called for it to be reopened, while some have called for it to be made permanent.

The Comiston Road scheme will provide segregated cycleways along the A702 from Frogston Road to Greenbank Crescent. Construction of the cycleways commenced on Monday 24 August and is expected to be complete by Friday 11 September.

The proposed Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route aims to establish a network of safe quiet streets using modal filters between Greenbank Crossroads and the Meadows, thus providing a safe cycleway from Fairmilehead to the city centre.

Braid Road Braid Road was closed between the Best Western Hotel and Hermitage Drive. At this time Braidburn Terrace was designated One-Way Eastbound with a cycle contraflow. These interventions remove through traffic from many of the streets in the surrounding area by requiring most North-South trips to be made via the A702.

The Braid Road scheme was reviewed by the Design Review Group on 11 August 2020 and it was recommended that the closure remain in place with a further review following the implementation of both the Comiston Road Cycleways and Greenbank to Meadows Quite Route. (Scheme Review Form enclosed).

The main objections to the closure relate to concerns regarding the level of traffic on Comiston Road, and delays to bus journeys. Traffic on Comiston Road It is acknowledged that traffic levels on Comiston Road returned to roughly pre-Covid levels earlier than other arterial routes, and this may be a result of the closure of Braid Road. However, this is not the only factor which has affected traffic levels.

During the week commencing 10th August there were roadworks on the A701 at Kaimes Crossroads which likely diverted additional traffic onto the A702. Unfortunately, these road works coincided with the schools returning resulting in delays, including significant delays to buses. However, following removal of the temporary traffic lights Lothian Buses have reported that service times are much improved.

In order to better understand the current traffic situation on Comiston Road the Council has commissioned traffic counts at Greenbank Crossroads and Morningside Station. These counts will take place WC 31 August with the results available next week. This data will be compared against counts from January 2018 for both Greenbank Crossroads and Braid Road, allowing us to accurately quantify the impact of the Braid Road closure on traffic on Comiston Road, and inform the next project reviews.

While it is likely that traffic will have diverted onto Comiston Road as a result of the closure of Braid Road – it will be important to consider whether overall levels of traffic on both streets has changed. Furthermore, any increase in traffic on the A702 that has occurred can reasonably be expected to reduce over time as people choose different routes, or make more sustainable travel choices through the principle of ‘traffic disappearance’ as people adapt their behaviours.

[For more information on Traffic Disappearance see: Reclaiming City Streets for People by the European Commission]

Actions to Address Traffic on Comiston Road The Council have taken numerous actions to address recent traffic and congestion issues on Comiston Road with further improvements planned.

The Council’s traffic signals teams adjusted the signals timings at the junctions with Greenbank Drive and Greenbank Crescent during the past week. This is expected to improve traffic flows.

During the coming fortnight it is proposed introduce a bicycle detection system to the Braidburn Terrace approach to Greenbank Crossroads. This street has been designated one-way, meaning there is no vehicular traffic entering the junction. However, the traffic lights have been continuing to provide a green light phase to this movement, resulting in lost time. Adjusting the traffic lights so that this green phase is only called when required is expected to significantly improve north-south traffic flow on Comiston Road by increasing the green time for these movements. Delays to Buses We have liaised closely with Lothian Buses regarding the impact of the Braid Road closure, and the interventions proposed for Comiston Road.

It has been reported that traffic is queueing in both directions from Greenbank Crossroads to an extent that causes delays to the bus services at peak times – especially following schools restarting during the week commencing 10 August.

Northbound it has been reported that queues are stacking back as far as Buckstone Terrace, which will cause delays to northbound buses. However, discussions with Lothian Buses have indicated that this is occasional, and that generally the queue does not extend further south than Comiston Springs Avenue, meaning buses can access the northbound Bus Lane and bypass the queue. (This is confirmed this week with Service 11 buses delayed at the 4 way TTLs at Lasswade Rd but not further delayed on Comiston Rd)

Southbound there are no bus lanes on the approach to this junction which mean that excess queueing will have a more immediate impact on buses. Throughout the week of the 10 August there were temporary traffic lights in place at Kaimes Crossroads on the A701. During this week there were significant queues on Comiston Road and the A702 which caused significant delays to bus services as a result of traffic transferring from the A701. However, following the completion of these works Lothian Buses have advised that traffic has returned to the A701 and they are not experiencing significant delays on the A702 during the pm peak.

Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route The Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route is the second half of the proposed route from Frogston Road to the city centre. It will run along quiet roads parallel to Morningside Road.

In order to implement this proposed route road closures would be introduced at various locations to remove through traffic.

At its southern end the route runs along Hermitage Avenue between Braid Road and Hermitage Gardens. With Braid Road closed this link is lightly trafficked, however, were Braid Road opened this might require further intervention to ensure it was safe.

The proposed Greenbank to Meadows QR has been designed so as to cut out rat-running traffic from streets between Cluny Gardens and Comiston Road with strategic closures shown in the map overleaf. This would include diagonal closures at the junctions of Braid Road & Braid Crescent, and the junction of Cluny Drive & Hermitage Gardens, as well as a modal filter on Braid Avenue. With Braid Road closed, these further interventions would effectively eliminate traffic cutting through residential streets between Cluny Gardens and Comiston Road.

As part of Greenbank to Meadows QR It is also proposed to introduce two closures on Whitehouse Loan. One immediately south of Strathearn Road, the other immediately south of Bruntsfield Crescent. These closures will enable safe cycling on Whitehouse Loan and reflect proposals which have been put forward by local community group ‘Blackford Safer Streets’. Proposed Greenbank to Meadows – Quiet Route (Subject to Stakeholder Notification and CIMT sign-off) Braid Road – Options

Options considered for the current Braid Road closure.

Option 1 – Retain Closure This option retains the maximum level of provision for walking and cycling and – alongside Greenbank to Meadows QR – removes through traffic from the greatest number of residential streets. Strategic diagonal closures at several points make it all but impossible to cut through between Cluny Gardens and Comiston Road, without having undue impact on residents’ ability to access the road network by car.

Option 2 – One-Way Southbound Opening Braid Road to southbound traffic only would be a reasonable alternative on completion of the road safety cycle segregation and resurfacing works. There is no Southbound bus lane on Comiston Road, meaning that queueing traffic heading south on the A702 has a greater impact on buses than the reverse.

However, Option 2 requires that through traffic is permitted to travel between Cluny Gardens and Braid Road via some residential streets. Through traffic will tend to route along Midmar Avenue where it is worth noting that residential properties are only on one side, and so traffic will affect the minimal number of households.

Full Re-Opening A full re-opening of Braid Road is not proposed at this stage, though could still be considered at a further review as the Spaces for People Programme continues. Option 1 and Option 2 are shown below, along with a table outlining their respective costs and benefits, and where appropriate the mitigations for these.

Next Steps A further review of all options will be considered in more detail in 2/3 weeks when information regarding traffic counts and traffic light sequencing changes has been received.

Benefits Costs Mitigations/ Caveats Option 1 • Greatest improvement • Some increase in • Traffic for people walking and traffic on Comiston increase cycling Road (impact on appears to be • Through traffic removed residents as well minor (TBA) from all streets between as road-users) • Bus delays Cluny Gdns and • Some impact on appear to be Comiston Rd bus delays on minor • Contribution to Traffic Comiston Road • Both will continue Reduction • Less resilience in to be monitored case of emergency • Traffic likely to fall road closure on A702 over time • Closure can be reversed in emergency

Option 2 • Reduce impact on • Less provision for • Coherent route southbound traffic on people walking and still deliverable – Comiston Road cycling though at slightly • Reduce impact on • Through Traffic re- greater expense southbound buses on introduced on • Small number of Comiston Road Midmar Avenue and households Hermitage Dr affected • Additional measures • Affected stretch is required on fairly short Hermitage Drive to • Braid Road still provide safe cycling closed route –impact on northbound parking (for segregation) and additional expense • Reduced opportunity for traffic disappearance

Spaces for People - Scheme Review Form

Location Original justification Braid Road – Road Closure To provide space for social distancing and safe access Braidburn Terrace – One way to Hermitage of Braid space for exercise. An initial scheme, originally implemented during the early stages of lockdown when only local travel for exercise was permitted.

Overall Programme Monitoring Objectives

To protect public health by: a) creating safe spaces for walking and cycling that encourage more people to choose active methods of travel as a safe, physically-distanced way to move around the city, preventing a growth in private car use and associated congestion and air pollution b) enabling safe physical distancing for everyone during their journeys, daily (government-approved) activities and exercise in the city’s streets c) mitigating any increased road safety risk as a result of people physical distancing in the city’s streets d) Supporting adaptation and resilience

Spaces for exercise objectives: a) to improve distancing opportunities and road safety at popular exercise spots. b) to provide spacious alternatives to paths and routes that are busy with pedestrians and cyclists c) to safely link together off-road walking and cycling routes to provide spaces for exercising that are safe from traffic.

Travelling safely objectives: a) To facilitate the safe movement of people by foot and cycle across the city, providing an alternative form of travel to private car that still allows the public to feel safe from Covid and road safety risks b) To provide an effective, physically distanced alternative means of travel around the city to public transport, whilst PT capacity is reduced due to physical distancing requirements. c) Continue to protect and prioritise the city’s bus and tram service in order that public transport can operate reliably, thereby maintaining a service frequency that can deliver social distancing for passengers.

Space in the City Centre and town centres objectives: a) To enable physical distancing to be practised in the city centre, on local high streets and around neighbourhood shops b) To create more public space around shops, cafés and restaurants to support business recovery c) To free up space for physical distancing, whilst not subjecting the bus network to significant extra delay

Project Review:

Do the SFP measures meet the project objectives: YES NO implement safe physical distancing to support cycling and walking travel Y for exercise and essential journeys; reduce infection risk on heavily used routes by providing traffic Y control measures and alternative routes; prioritise the implementation of measures in areas of deprivation N where car use or public transport access is limited; prioritise access to local exercise and greenspaces, employment Y centres, and service hubs(e.g. hospitals & schools) Improvement for pedestrians Y Improvement for cyclists Y Improvement for public transport N/A Have additional measures been introduced – if yes provide details: Y Since the installation of the original Braid Road, road closure Town centre footpath widening measures have been introduced on the Morningside and Bruntsfield corridor, to provide additional physical space for residents, shoppers and visitors to the area. Parking provision and road space has been reduced. WC 17/8/20 initial installation of Comiston Road cycle segregation scheme is due to commence. The scheme includes segregated cycle provision from the Fairmilehead Crossroads to the Greenbank junction.

Road Safety Audit feedback:

• 4.1 - Uneven road surface (loss of control) Response – Resurfacing of the road surface is planned to be carried out as part of a Road Safety Project, due to re-commence in August 2020

• 4.3 – Northern Closure (Cyclists exiting the gap in road barriers) Response – The barrier alignment has been amended to allow cyclists to enter/exit at the kerbside.

• 4.4 – Cyclist collision at barrier gap Response – Signage on the barriers informs drivers that the road is closed with the exception of cyclists (and pedestrians). The barrier alignment has also been modified to allow cyclists to enter/exit from the kerbside. Due to the emergency nature of the closure it was not possible to resurface the carriageway, which is due to be resurfaced as part of the Braidburn terrace project. Further amendments to the road layout and line marking will be considered as part of the Spaces for People review process.

• 4.5 – Advanced signage should be relocated Response – Advance warning sign text and locations have been amended.

Public Feedback / Complaints Braid Road closure and one-way restriction on Braidburn Terrace.

Post “Bedding-in” Feedback (07.07.20 onwards)

43 comments received with 3 positive responses which wanted the closure to be made permanent.

40 negative responses were made directly or via Councillor Neil Ross or Daniel Johnston MSP, these were all requests for the road to be reopened. They highlighted the following concerns:

• Braid Road forms an important traffic route to areas not well served by Comiston Road or other roads/diversions. • Measures no longer required since lockdown had been eased and unlimited travel for exercise was no permitted. • A significant increase in congestion on Comiston Road since the closure of Braid Road/ easing of lockdown/ potentially at the return of schools. • Increased journey time on routes from Buckstone/Fairmilehead to the areas in the north/east of the city. • Increased pollution affecting the Comiston road corridor and particularly the effect of this on schools on this route. • The perceived conflict between the closure of Braid Road and other SfP works on Comiston Road to improve cycling provision. • The effect on residents in the Buckstone area and loss of signalised exit onto Comiston Road (at Braidburn Terrace) meaning that more drivers had to make a right turn across traffic to head north in a 40mph area.

Suggested amendments were to: • Open the road and maintain it as per the arrangement prior to lockdown. • Permit one-way traffic on Braid road. • Introduce parking restrictions at the Braid Road/ Braidburn Terrace roundabout and at the entrance of Hermitage of Braid. • Install pedestrian crossing improvements at the Braid Road/ Braidburn Terrace roundabout. • Close Braid Road at the Braidburn Terrace roundabout and provide time- limited end-on parking on Braid Road with cycle lanes/ wider footways.

Review Groups recommendations: Continue Road Closure The Braid Road closure was introduced in April 2020 to provide safe access to the Hermitage. The Braidburn Terrace scheme was introduced to restrict intrusive traffic. Traffic Consideration on the Comiston Road/Morningside Corridor:

The Design Review Group (DRG) considered the implications of the two restrictions on the adjacent road network. Observations and traffic signal loop data has confirmed that current traffic levels on the Comiston road/Greenbank Crescent junction are now at a pre-Covid level. As a function of the two measures driver behaviour has changed and traffic has been displaced from residential routes on the main A702 corridor.

During this review it was collectively agreed the current traffic flows are manageable on the A702 corridor and Morningside Station junction, however, a more detailed traffic impact analysis would be required before the proposed Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route should be considered.

It was evident that some displaced traffic has increased journey times on the Comiston Road route, however, data from the signal loops suggest overall traffic flows are still comparable with pre-Covid levels.

Once the proposed Comiston Road Cycle Segregation scheme has been established a further review of traffic conditions and impact analysis should be undertaken.

Review undertaken by:

D Sinclair – Chair (Local Transport and Environment Manager) Robert Mansell – Senior Engineer (Intelligent Traffic Systems) Martin Lings – Active Travel Officer Rurigdh McMeddes - Stakeholder Liaison Officer (Active Travel) August 2020 5 Update on Original Proposals for Braid Road

Good evening,

I hope you are all as well as you can be.

I realise it has been a little while since I last updated you on progress of the works; they are, thankfully, progressing towards their conclusion with the delivery of the Pedestrian Refuge Island at Braid Hills Path and I appreciate that you have all endured the ongoing disruption and inconvenience for some time now, especially as Riselaw Crescent has been closed for an extended period.

This arose from discovering a failure in the surface of Riselaw Crescent when the newly increased footways were installed. This would have been compound by the revised geometry of the junction. Our Capital Maintenance section have funded renewal of the carriageway surface and the current contractors, J Sives Surfacing Ltd., have been tasked with the work to do so.

This has now been arranged for next week and it is anticipated that the principle work will take place on Wednesday 9 September to Friday 11 September inclusive. A letter (copy attached) has been circulated to households in the immediate vicinity for their information.

Riselaw Crescent will remain CLOSED to facilitate this and as the repair will extend onto the northbound carriageway of Braid Road at the junction with Riselaw Crescent, the narrower section of road there will be controlled by two-way traffic light control. This will necessitate some parking restrictions indicated by yellow ‘NO WAITING’ cones and a revised Traffic Regulation Notice will be in place from Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September to accommodate this. The relevant Street Notices will be posted on street furniture with yellow ‘Corex’ information boards by COB tomorrow, Friday 4 September to highlight this.

The construction work has now relocated to the refurbishment of the footway at the rear of Braid Hills Hotel, which will complete the Pedestrian Refuge Islands about Braid Farm Road by Friday 11 September. The revised white lines, road markings and signs will also be delivered soon and I have asked Scottish Power to reconnect the renewed street lights and hope that will be done w/c 7 September.

Regrettably, the works have taken longer to deliver during these evolving times and dismal weather, so that the contractor has now run-up-against other obligations. Therefore, the additional resurfacing works and their associated elements will not take place until the week of 12 October. I will endeavour to keep you informed of the final stages and our plans for their delivery.

Once again, may I ask for your perseverance and compliance with the restrictions as well as any direction given by the Contractor’s employees.

As ever, I am happy to help but If you have any queries during the work, about access for example, please contact: • J Sives Surfacing Ltd. on 0131 668 3070 or their employees on site in the first instance

As I may not always be at work, for general enquiries please contact: • CLARENCE on 0800 23 23 23 or • [email protected] (our general enquiries email)

I appreciate your continuing patience and co-operation as the work continues toward its conclusion.

Kind regards,

Allan

Allan Hoad I Transport Officer - Road Safety I Road Safety and Active Travel I Road Networks I Place Development I The City of Edinburgh Council I Waverley Court, Business Centre C.2 I 4 East Market Street I Edinburgh I EH8 8BG I Work Mobile – 07511 046 853 I [email protected] I www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Date 3 September 2020 Your ref

Our ref RS/CAP/19/01/AH

Dear Sir/Madam

BRAID ROAD - ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

The road safety improvements in Braid Road are progressing towards their conclusion and I am grateful for your patience, especially as Riselaw Crescent has been closed for an extended period.

This arose from discovering a failure in the surface of Riselaw Crescent when the newly increased footways were installed. This would have been compound by the revised geometry of the junction.

Our Capital Maintenance section have funded renewal of the carriageway surface and the current contractors, J Sives Surfacing Ltd., have been tasked with the work to do so.

This has now been arranged for next week and it is anticipated that the principle work will take place on Wednesday 9 September to Friday 11 September inclusive.

What Access will I have to my property?

• Pedestrian access will always be maintained. • Vehicle access to properties will be maintained where possible, however there are circumstances where this may not be possible, e.g. when machines are working, or material is being laid near to an entrance or a driveway or the works and width of road prevent allowing access. • Businesses - for specific access enquiries please contact J Sives Surfacing Ltd. on 0131 668 3070 • Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.

I am having works carried out on my property or I am moving home what access will the tradesmen/removal men have?

Where possible access will be provided for deliveries and collections, please contact J Sives Surfacing Ltd. on 0131 668 3070

How will parking be affected?

Exact dates and information about parking restrictions will be displayed on yellow street signs before work begins.

How will my rubbish be collected?

Rubbish bins should be put out as normal; if there are any changes to this the Foreman will inform the residents/businesses. Refuse collectors will ask the squad on site for access into the area. If your collection fails, please contact the council.

Any questions?

If you have any queries during the work, please contact: • J Sives Surfacing Ltd. on 0131 668 3070 For general enquiries please contact: • CLARENCE on 0800 23 23 23, or • [email protected] (general enquiries)

May I ask for your patience and co-operation with the restrictions or any direction given by the Contractor’s employees.

Thank You.

Yours faithfully

6 Neighbourhood Watch Information

Drones - Information on Legality - Safety - Privacy

Following an enquiry to the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland office with regards the use of drones over residential areas I have gathered together a number of information links that may be useful.

The situation that was reported is that a drone was being flown at a low level over residential gardens in the Stirling area. There are many issues around the legality of this kind of activity, danger to safety and also privacy.

The body that has responsibility for the licensing and training of drone pilots and the registration of the drone is the Civil Aviation Authority. When it comes to privacy and use of data the Information Commissioners Office have responsibility for this area.

Report any dangerous or potential misuse of a drone to Police Scotland on Tel 101. In the above mentioned scenario Police Scotland reacted in a positive and supportive way to the person reporting the incident from the call handler to the officers visiting the home address to take details of the incident.

The below links will take you relevant information.

Flying Drones and Model Aircraft Civil Aviation Authority https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/

Information for the Public Civil Aviation Authority https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/General-guidance/Information-for-the-public- about-UAS-and-drones/

Privacy and Data Use Information Commissioners Office https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/drones/

The Drone Code https://dronesafe.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Drone-Code_October2019.pdf

Neighbourhood Watch Scotland hope you find this information informative and useful in the event of an incident happening in your area.

Message Sent By Mark Armstrong (NHWN, Community Support Officer, NW Scotland)

How Can We Keep Children Safe Online When They Know More Than Us?

The online world is a complicated one. With this in mind we have attached guidance posters to empower both yourself and your children.

The infographic posters attached focus on the following platforms:

• Instagram • WhatsApp • TikTok • Discord

If you wish to learn more about online dangers please click the following link, https://nationalonlinesafety.com/, to National Online Safety where you will find more guides and updates to help your kids stay safe while online.

Attachments Parents Guide Instagram.pdf - 2,161.0 KB Parents Guide WhatsApp.pdf - 1,464.4 KB Parents Guide TikTok.pdf - 921.7 KB Parents Guide Discord.pdf - 2,879.1 KB

Message Sent By Varrie McDevitt (NHWN, Admin Assistant, NW Scotland)

Crime Prevention Advice - Cyber Safety - Phishing

Dear All,

Please find listed below Cyber Safety advice relating to Phishing.

Regards

PC Julie Cochrane Prevention, Interventions and Partnerships Department Edinburgh Division

What is phishing and how does it work?

You wouldn’t let a thief enter your home, but what if the thief was masquerading as someone familiar, such as a postman, and tricked you into opening the door? Phishing works in a similar way - criminals use legitimate-looking messages and websites to trick people into opening the doors to their personal data, giving up logins, passwords or even payment details. That information can then be used to commit fraud and cybercrime.

How big is the problem?

Phishing attacks are a common security challenge that both individuals and businesses across the UK face on a regular basis. The National Cyber Security Centre’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) received over 1.7M reports from the public between April and August 2020, with the most commonly faked brands being TV Licensing, HMRC and GOV.UK.

How can you protect yourself from phishing scams?

Many of the phishing scams that get reported to us have one thing in common, they started with a message out of the blue. Whether it’s an email asking you to “verify” account information, or a text message claiming to be from your bank, the goal of a phishing attack is usually the same - to trick you into revealing personal and financial information.

Criminals are experts at impersonation and they’re constantly getting better at creating fake emails and texts that look like the real thing. Here’s some simple advice you can follow when it comes to dealing with phishing scams:

1 - Remember, your bank, or any other official organisation, won’t ask you to share personal information over email or text. If you need to check that it is a genuine message, call them directly. Don't use the numbers/emails in the email, but visit the official website instead.

2 - If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): [email protected]. If it turns out to be a malicious, your report will help other people from falling victim to it.

3 - Received a text message you’re not quite sure about? Maybe it’s asking you to “verify” personal or financial details, such as a banking password? You can report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to 7726.

4 - If you’ve lost money or provided personal information as a result of a phishing email, notify your bank immediately and report it to Police Scotland on 101: www.scotland.police.uk

For more simple tips on how to protect yourself online, visit: www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/

Message Sent By Julie Cochrane (Police, Constable, Edinburgh)

Cyber Resilience Bulletin

Attached is the latest Cyber Resilience bulletin which details information on the latest scams and also advice on how to protect ourselves and businesses.

The Trading Standards Scam Share newsletter, imbedded within the COVID-19 bulletin also provides important information to keep us safe from scams, doorstep crime and cold callers.

The attached bulletin is also available online at: https://blogs.gov.scot/cyber- resilience/2020/05/06/cyber-resilience-notice-covid-19/

Please share as required.

Attachments Cyber - Cyber Resilience COVID-19 Bulletin 27082020.pdf - 678.1 KB

Message Sent By Varrie McDevitt (NHWN, Admin Assistant, NW Scotland)

Cyber Security Advice

Dear All,

Please see cyber security advice in relation to Remote Access to your computer and Investment Fraud attached.

Kind Regards PC Kaiser-Ferris Prevention, Intervention and Partnerships Department Edinburgh Division

Attachments Investment Fraud.pdf - 679.3 KB Remote Access.pdf - 290.2 KB

Message Sent By Sonja Kaiser-Ferris (Police, Constable, Edinburgh)

Scamshare Bulletin

In this edition of the Scamshare bulletin we look at the most recent scams which have been reported by consumers across Scotland. Here is just a snapshot of what we cover this week:

- ICO fine London firm £100,000 for sending over 21 million spam emails in one year - East Renfrewshire Trading Standards publish new financial harm toolkit - Top Covid-19 scams in Scotland - Banking Protocol - Celebrity Endorsement Scams - Bank Security Scam Call - Romance Scams - #bepuppywise campaign - Fake ASDA promotion - Counterfeit designer hairdryers https://mailchi.mp/6aaf5a0ee5e8/scam-share

As always we are happy to hear your about your experiences and for you to share any information you have on the scams you as consumers in Scotland are facing.

Message Sent By Kirsten Halliday (NHWN, Administrator, Scotland)

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Launch Fire Safety In the Home - Self Assessment

A new online fire safety quiz has been launched by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support people to stay safe at home – and potentially save lives.

The ‘Fire Safety in the Home - Self Assessment’ survey asks a series of simple questions and then automatically generates a home fire safety report for them.

People are also encouraged to sign up for a free Home Fire Safety Visit from firefighters who can provide further safety advice, check smoke detectors and fire evacuation plans. These visits would be conducted in line with present social distancing and safety restrictions . The quiz could help to save lives and property, says the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's head of prevention and protection, Alasdair Perry.

He commented: "This is a fantastic resource that can help people stay safe in their own homes – and they can even take the quiz on behalf of a relative or neighbour to help keep them safe too.

"The questions and the advice are simple and straightforward - but heeding that advice could help save a life, or prevent an emergency from occurring in the first place.

"We would encourage as many people as possible who have access to the internet to take the quiz, for your own home and for any others you may know who would benefit."

The quiz goes through topics such as heat and smoke detectors, electrical sockets and smoking in bed, with potentially life-saving advice appearing on screen where needed and depending on the answers given by the user.

The tool also encourages users to sign up for a Home Fire Safety Visit - limited numbers of which are currently being carried out to those who are at highest risk of fire in the home during the coronavirus pandemic.

"By working together with our communities, we can continue to drive down the number of completely unavoidable fires we see in Scotland's homes, and the number of avoidable injuries we see as a result."

To use the interactive tool, visit: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/online-hfsv-checker.aspx

For more information on free Home Fire Safety Visits, go to: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/for-householders/home-fire-safety- visit.aspx

Message Sent By Mark Armstrong (NHWN, Community Support Officer, NW Scotland)

Door To Door Crime

Dear All,

Police Scotland has been made aware of problematic door to door traders in the wider Edinburgh area. Some of these may be trading lawfully, however please know that any person attending at your door attempting to sell goods requires to be in possession of a current Pedlar Certificate as per the Pedlars Act 1871. If unknown persons attend at your door, use your door chain (if available) and ask to see their Pedlars Certificate on every occasion. Pedlar Certificates are issued to eligible candidates by the Police and entitle the holder to act as a Pedlar anywhere within the UK.

Should the Pedlar not be able to provide a certificate when asked, he may be committing an offence. Please contact Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency, if you have any concerns.

Kind Regards PC Julie Cochrane Prevention, Intervention and Partnerships Department Edinburgh Division