Marchmont and Sciennes Community
Council
Minutes of Meeting held on
November 26th, 2025 at St. Catherine’s Argyle Church Hall
Present
Susie Agnew - MSCC interim chair
Alison Service - MSCC Treasurer
Anne Laing - MSCC Secretary
Douglas Rogers - MSCC Inclusion Officer
Alastair Dickie - SMAG (South Meadows Action Group)
Kate McNerney - SMAG
Richard Shillcock - MSCC
Peter Olech - MSCC
Geoff Parsons - MSCC
Margaret Coughtrie - Local resident
Calum Duncan - Local resident
Cllr. Tim Pogson
Cllr. Marie Claire Munro
Apologies
Brian Gilmore - Chair, MSCC
Kayleigh Gordon - MSCC Publicity
Attending
Eli Ferrell - Minutes Secretary
Meeting began at 19:33pm
Sederunt and apologies
Susie welcomes everyone to the meeting. Sederunt
and apologies as above.
Draft Minutes of last meeting October 2025
The previous minutes reflected a discussion about
the Royal Mail delivery office that is closing (entirely in the private sector
now). It’s not just that the privatization of utilities leads to worse service.
Everyone local was against this happening, but there was no accountability.
Correction on who nominated Childrens 1st Scotland.
General note to avoid he said/she said minutes -
more of an objective voice.
Alison moves to approve the minutes. Geoff seconds.
Actions and matters arising (not otherwise on
Agenda)
Defibrillators
Anne has been looking at posters for the
defibrillators, as previously suggested. Each poster costs £8, so it was agreed
to spend £24 for the 3 noticeboards. A photo of the defibrillator has been
given to Kayleigh for publicity.
Alison will double-check that the defibrillator is
registered.
Police Report
No police report.
Meadows & Bruntsfield Links
The next big meeting is in January, due to the
winter month slowdown. There was a recent effort to pick up dead leaves in the
links.
Alison will also get an update on the competition
to name the new path at the sewage site on BL.
Publicity
Christmas publicity
MSCC has ordered posters for the noticeboards and
businesses to display, which Kayleigh is collecting next Tuesday. She will get
an invoice for the treasurer. The base post for the event has been done, but
more will be published in the run-up to the event.
The noticeboards will get Christmas-ified next
week, weather permitting.
Publicity recommended that the defibrillator be
mentioned at the Christmas event as well.
City Councillor report on topical local issues
Recabling
Cllr Tim Pogson reports there is a Scottish power
recabling project in the area. It was due to start in August. Roughly, it will
begin at the electric substation at Whitehouse Loan and coming through the
Grange before going towards Shawfair. It will be a rolling set of traffic
lights that continues along. It is still in the works and is coming soon.
Traffic Regulation Order on Sciennes Road
The experimental traffic regulation order on
Sciennes Road outside the school was published a while ago. The intention is to
implement that plan from the end of January. It would be in place for a period
to determine if it is helpful or not. The potential delay is that they may have
to go to planning for that, in which case it will be delayed. Cllr Tim
Pogson assures MSCC that the plan is experimental only and will be able to be
changed.
After the last meeting, MSCC proposed that they
close everything except the pavement at the south end for pedestrian passage.
However, we did not hear back. The feeling is very strong that pedestrians
should be allowed to traverse the area. There is a clear recognition of the
problem at both sides of the closed area in order to improve safety in regards
to cars.
MSCC objects strongly to the way that Sciennes
Primary School has failed to involve the community in planning and discussion.
There is a discussion about the 24 car spaces that
have been created in front of the Sick Kids development. That means that you
cannot close the entirety of Sciennes Road. Cllr Marie Claire Munro notes this
will all get ironed out in the consultation.
Bin Hubs/Flytipping
Cllr Marie Claire Munro reports that there are
continuing problems with bin hubs across the area. It is very frustrating that
some bins cannot be moved as quickly as they’d like, but the Cllr is working
with residents to maximize. If anyone has any problems with bin hubs, they
should email Cllr Marie Claire.
There is an issue with the way that bins are being
managed operatively. If you have an issue with the way your bins are being put
back, email Cllr Marie Claire directly. She is working on some of these issues
already. In Strathern Road, some bins have been suffering badly from extreme
wind. Cllr Marie Claire notes that if the operatives fail to put down the clips
on the wheels or put the bins away in the correct direction, the bins can shift
or the lids can fly open/off. Residents must inform the council if there are
any bin problems.
MSCC had a general discussion about the increased
problem of flytipping/recycling. There is a suggestion for having a specific
area to leave large objects for recycling, since this would be more climate
aware. Some people strongly appreciate the culture of recycling items. Cllr
Marie Claire has noted a difference made by flytipping posters and community
reports (including photos and evidence) of flytipping. Some claim the reason
there is flytipping is because there are bin hubs. Signs about the illegality of
flytipping will be requested to be placed near the bin hubs on Spottiswoode
Road.
Mobile Phone Ban
Earlier this year, there was a motion to ban mobile
phones in primary and secondary schools. Phones are now completely banned in
primary schools. There are two pilot programs in high schools that lock
students’ phones in pouches. The results of the experiment are not yet
complete, but it seems to be going well. James Gillispie’s has asked that those
pouches be implemented quicker in that school. Due to procurement reasons, they
couldn’t implement the pouch system straight away, but the education board has
approved an immediate mobile phone ban. Six phones have been confiscated in the
first week, and all members of James Gillispie’s seem pleased with the initial
results. Once procurement issues can be solved, they will fully implement the
program.
Play space funding
Cllr Marie Claire reported that the council has
managed to secure funding for the small playground next to the croquet club.
They are working in tandem with FOMBL to source new climbing frames, swings,
potentially a slide, and gates that automatically close. There is also a plan
to update the gates to be wheelchair/double stroller accessible.
Funding was also given to put in a ping pong table
across from the Black Ivy.
Inclusion Officer’s report (attached)
Proposed Marchmont Community Heat Initiative
Douglas attended the Heat Network Funding and
Finance Workshop in the council offices which was attended by several
councillors. One way to approach the hugely expensive project of a heat network
in a more reasonable way is to connect small units via local heat networks,
that can later be connected into a primary Edinburgh-wide heat network. There
is a 2045 deadline to remove gas heating from all houses. The heat network is
the only viable way to approach this. There is a proposal to form a Marchmont
Heat Network. In a heat network, you can use gas to top up your heating during
peak periods.
We propose an options appraisal to examine which
non-gas options are best, and which options might be linked to potential
funding. Heat sources tend to be in East Lothian (ie the private wire using a
heat pump from seawater and the East Lothian heat network), but there are some
heat sources here. This approach would also make sure the heat network remains
locally managed. There is also a proposal to investigate putting boreholes in
Bruntsfield Links and bringing heat out from there. This specific idea needs to
be tested against other options.
If anyone is interested in helping with developing
a heat network proposal for Marchmont, please contact Douglas.
Mortuary Chapel
There are suggestions for alternative uses for the
Mortuary Chapel building. The murals within that chapel are extraordinary. It
could be used as a quiet reflective space.
Request by BANZAI (Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action
Initiative)for inclusion of MSCC in their Local Place Plan
BANZAI wants to include this area in their plan,
which could be valuable as Marchmont is not interested in making their own
plan. This will feed into the 2040 council plan. BANZAI will send out
questionnaires to Marchmont residents and community councillors and will
compile the results to inform the place plan. There can also be local nuance.
MSCC is happy with this proposal.
Roseburn Path
MSCC both cannot (due to closed submissions) and
won’t comment on the consultation. Some members of the council believe this was
a missed opportunity. The secretary will refer any dissenters to the previous
minutes, which reflected extremely strong and controversial opinions and
recommended individuals submit their own opinions.
Items for discussion
Planning (report attached)
Application for renewing the mobile masts
externally on spire of Marchmont St Giles Church - MSCC will not object.
Treasurer’s report (attached)
MSCC looks healthy. The treasurer is in the process
of closing the Bank of Scotland account and transitioning to Virgin. Bank
balance totals £1764 at end October.
SMAG report (attached)
Text of Note for MSCC & SMAG Members (attached)
is read.
“Following recent public notices by the CEC, and
requests from SMAG members, the SMAG Committee has now obtained (from the Bin
hub Review Team Manager) information about progress being made by the Bin hub
review team.
The current TRI/25/03 being consulted on (until
December 5th) is apparently being put in place to enact propose to changes to
Bin Hub locations, and other road signage issues, that were agreed in 2023.
They do not relate to any requests for change in bin hub locations made by
resident submissions in June 2025, following the November 2024 criteria
changes. The review of these submissions is still ongoing. In June, it was
indicated to us that the decisions would be addressed in the January 2026 TEC
meeting of the CEC, but now, the CEC is unable, as yet, to advise of any new
proposals for change in bin hub locations.
The Bin Hub Review that started in mid-2023 has
taken 18 months of labythian processes to reach a decision. Following the TRO's
approval in January 26th, we can therefore expect the work to be carried out in
Jan-June 2026. This means that the work will have taken fully 24 months (2
years) to complete, and we still don't know which relocation requests have been
approved or rejected.
It seems reasonable, therefore, to assume that the
submissions made for Bin Hub location change will follow a similar process,
taking from June 2025 to the summer of 2027 to complete! This is an
unacceptably long wait for a correction to the imposition of intrusive bin hubs
in the areas contested. SMAG intends to challenge this.”
SMAG intends to challenge an overly-long time for
bin hub location review. Cllr Marie Claire is going to request an earlier
update on bin hubs locations that will be moved.
In some places, the top of the bin has been removed
and only the base has been left behind.
Meetings attended
Report on presentation to EACC (Douglas)
Plans for Xmas
Butterfly’s Cafe is not supplying mince pies this
year. However, there is a potential alternative that is in the process of being
contacted. There are currently two registered volunteers, so Alison continues
to look for willing volunteers to help traffic control/handing out mince pies
& songsheets/manning microphone/etc. She needs 6-8 volunteers.
volunteers to meet at 3:30 at the German Church hall on Saturday, 6th of
December to get hi-viz vests and allocated tasks. it is not sure if the JG
Senior Choir will participate - Alison will hear this week. MSCC members are
asked to request additional volunteers.
AOCB
Calum is interested in giving a half-hour talk on
heating networks at a future council meeting. That could be put into the
February meeting. The talk could also be recorded for Youtube.
ROYAL MAIL
Delivery Office (Susie Agnew)
Cllr Marie Claire Munro to ask Lynne Murray, the
Head of Royal Mail, to get help in getting parcels delivered to Falcon
Road instead of Murrayfield. Cllrs note that for these issues, there’s more
sway with the local Cllrs.
A suggestion to get in contact with the CWU branch
as well.
Marchmont St Giles Church merger and new parish
name: Blackford and Grange Parish
Marchmont St Giles Church will be merging with Reid
Memorial. No one knows what will happen to that building, although the
congregation will continue holding events in the interim. It’s owned by the
Church of Scotland.
Invitation to mark the 150th Anniversary of the
Cockburn Association
City Chambers, High Street, 6:30-8pm on Tuesday,
9th December.
Council request for community council comment on
play spaces
MSCC has approved that Susie answer that
questionnaire for the Play Sufficiency Assessment.
The date of the next meeting is 28th of
January.
