WEEDS are a growing problem in Balerno, according to local residents.
Balerno Community Council are, to use a pun, not allowing grass to grow under their feet.
And they are determined to get to the root of the problem.
Complaints have been received regularly during the last few months and BCC are compiling a case to present to the City of Edinburgh Council.
That is where local residents come in.
If you have a particular concern about weeds in your street or surrounding area then please get in touch.
Richard Henderson, BCC chairman, said: “Pictures would be a great help along with comments so we can make a case for more regular maintenance in and around Balerno.”
PICTURE: Taken in the Dean Park area of Balerno
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TALKS to deliver a safer corridor between Balerno, Kirknewton and East Calder as part of a long-term, £3m project, are under way.
Separating walkers and cyclists from cars and lorries is the target and discussions with landowners are already taking place.
Representatives from the City of Edinburgh Council have walked the route and recently presented to Currie Community Council. They visited Balerno Community Council (BCC) in June.
Planning company AECOM have been commissioned by Edinburgh (CEC) and West Lothian (WLC) Councils to develop the concept and they will produce a detailed design for “a new, safer, more attractive and aesthetically pleasing active travel route”.
The project aims to address safety concerns focused on the existing National Cycle Network, Route  75, and to encourage active travel by developing an accessible and well-connected path.
Minimising environmental impact is a key element in the plans for which at present five options are being considered including the use of Long Dalmahoy Road with a starting point of Lanark Road into Somerville Road at the entrance to the Kingfisher Estate.
Other options envisage a route behind Ravelrig Quarry and another uses existing roads via Glenbrook with a short connection on the busy A70.
The corridor would be between 3m and 4m wide and smooth with low gradients and each route has been analysed for safety considerations, connectivity to key areas, environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, alignment with project objectives.
Andrew Lices, senior project manager, Active Travel, Sustainable Development, Place, for the City of Edinburgh Council, said the aim is to “identify the most practical solution for active travel”.
We will report further when we have more information.
PICTURE: Somerville Road, Balerno
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Scottish Ministers have given approval for a battery storage site less than 100m from a school campus, despite safety concerns.
The site is close to the Dalkeith campus which has around 2,500 children and young people on its roll.
There was no mention, according to a report in The Edinburgh Reporter, of fire risks or the proximity of the school in the decision.
A report to Midlothian councillors said: “Minsters are satisfied that landscape and visual impacts, impacts on traffic, impacts from noise, coal mining legacy issues, decommissioning and pollution prevention can all be mitigated via the use of conditions.”
Ministers also said that the benefits of the new site would be vital to meeting net zero targets.
Of course, we have a battery farm proposed for Long Dalmahoy Road – work has already started to create the site at the junction with Ravelrig Road - and BCC are writing to Gordon Macdonald, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, both to ask for an update on plans for the Balerno site and also to raise safety concerns.
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CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Christmas may seem like a long way away, however, Balerno Community Council (BCC) are already considering their plans to celebrate.
Uppermost in their talks is the condition of the current lights and Ian Hynd reported to the June meeting that those have seen better days. Therefore, BBC will be looking for funding to replace elements.
If you know of any organisation or individual who would be keen to support this annual event then please get in touch.
 
UPDATES: Other notes from the meeting. BCC are reinstating a planning sub-committee which will have the specific remit of reviewing planning applications and how they affect the area. This is considered a key role as we move forward with Balerno a prime site for housing developers, and as we await the development of a new local development plan already called CityPlan2040 by CEC.
 
The Balerno Pathways project on the Green Bridge is progressing, slowly, and we await an update from City of Edinburgh Council to take us another step of the way.
 
BCC are in touch with the council as regards the treatment of the roads in Balerno during a cold snap and we hope to arrange an early meeting with a representative to discuss the issue which was a major talking point last winter.
 
Balerno Village Trust are still in talks with Police Scotland over the acquisition of the police station in the village and they hope to report on further progress towards creating a community hub at our next meeting in July.
 
Unfortunately, local city councillors were unable to attend the June meeting so therefore there are no reports.
 
Finally, BCC will start working for production of a Local Place Plan, with the first step being to update ‘Our Village, Our Community’,  our local plan  published in 2019, which will act as a valuable tool going forward.
 
PARKING: MAIN STREET: Councillor Graeme Bruce has passed on the complaint from a constituent over parking in the Main Street to the council’s Enforcement Contractor with a request that they make more frequent visits to the area.
Constituents can also submit enforcement requests using the following link: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parking/reporting-vehicles-parked-illegally/1
Frequent reports will highlight to contractors that this is a problem area which requires more regular enforcement, however, the council stress that parking attendants may not be able to attend each time a report is submitted.
You can contact the council on [email protected]
 
RBS MOBILE BANK:  CEC have confirmed through our local city councillors that they do not see any problem in the Mobile Bank Van stopping in Main Street for its regular Tuesday morning visit, and BCC will be investigating relocating the van back to that stance as soon as possible.
 

Balerno Community Council have been informed by a senior planning officer at City of Edinburgh Council that there will be a blast at Ravelrig Quarry this week.

It is due on Friday, 6 June at around 12:15pm and this blast will take place on the Southern Bench.

Agenda for Meeting of the Balerno Community Council to be held at Balerno Community Centre on Thursday 5th June 2025 at 7.00pm.

1. Welcome and introductions
2. Approve draft agenda
3. Declarations of Interest
4. Minutes Draft minutes of May 2025 monthly meeting for approval Annex item 4.1
5. Governance Communication from CEC Agenda item 5
6. Order of Business Priority items
7. Presentation ; Andrew Lices - Senior Project Manager, Active Travel – Sustainable Development, Place, CEC 30 minutes
8. Cloich Power Line Update
9. Ravelrig Quarry Upda
10. Battery Farm – Long Dalmahoy Road Noting
11. Environment Weeds - E-mail exchanges Annex item 9 E mail exchanges attached Regular and continuing business
12. Governance & Working arrangements for BCC Committees – including Planning - engagement with the public - Comms etc
13. Aims and vision - Projects - Local Place Plan
14. Finance Report
15. Police issues – see item 10 Police Station - update
16. Councillors & Office Bearers Reports
17. Current issues – not otherwise on the agenda Planning Report BVT Balerno Pathways Limited St Mungo’s project Resilience - winter road treatment Annex Iitem 9
18. Portfolio Reports Police and Fire (at 6 above) Planning Report Transport & Environment – Pentland Hills Culture and Sport, Health Regional Park Communities, Neighbourhood, Education, Children etc see 7.5 above
19. Communications Annex Item 12
20. AOCB
21. Date of next scheduled meeting – 7th August 2025