Balerno is pro-improvement and the local residents want better schools, healthcare, facilities, affordable and appropriate housing, and environmental enhancement. Balerno is not anti-change but clearly anti-expansion.  
That is the overriding finding of a recent survey conducted as a working group prepares a Local Place Plan (PPP) to submit to the City of Edinburgh Council by September.
Residents firmly oppose Green Belt development, large-scale housing growth and infrastructure lagging behind development.
Locals want preservation over expansion, better basics (roads, access, healthcare) before new development and a more inclusive, accessible, and community-focused village .
The responses on the Main Street point clearly toward physical prevention and consistent enforcement, a real change, as without both, rules are ignored and safety concerns persist
The feedback for Balerno High School is unusually consistent and this is not a “minor upgrade” situation.
The community expects either a new school or a transformational overhaul, combined with safer transport and stronger community integration.
Physical infrastructure in Dean Park School is lagging behind population growth, traffic is the most urgent day-to-day problem and people want a modern, community-focused, future-proof school.
The biggest opportunities are youth provision, upgrading of existing assets (parks, school, library) and the creation a true community hub.
On the potential proposal for a church being built opposite Balerno High School, residents want any future proposal to demonstrate careful consideration of alternative sites, robust mitigation of traffic and parking impacts and clear justification for development on greenfield land, in the context of strong community resistance. Failure to address these issues is likely to result in continued and significant local opposition.
The Pentlands are highly-valued, but visitor pressure is now exceeding what current management can handle. People are not asking for major development, they are asking for stronger protection, better basic infrastructure, clear rules with real enforcement and careful balance between access and preservation
Ravelrig Quarry, operated by Tarmac, produced a layered opinion. The community isn’t divided and everyone wants green/nature, most want access, some want activities, almost none want housing or landfill.
The safest and most supported direction is a rewilded, accessible country park with carefully integrated recreation.
Overall, residents are saying: “We like Balerno, but the infrastructure hasn’t kept up, and what we have needs modernising.”
Residents are not asking for major transformation, they overwhelmingly want protection of what exists, better maintenance, targeted improvements (paths, play, trees, amenities) and any strategy should therefore focus on “protect, maintain, enhance” rather than “develop.”
THE NEXT STEP: BCC want to thank everyone who responded to the consultation and a working group has been tasked with reviewing all responses. They will put forward draft proposals based on comments submitted. 
BCC aim to have these available for viewing on our website and at the Gala Day on May 23 and also at Balerno Farmers’ Market on June 23. A public meeting will be held on July 9.
After this, LPP will be written and agreed by the BCC and made available for public viewing before submission to CEC. 

More than 200 submissions have been received on the Local Place Plan (LPP) survey which will shape the future of Balerno.
Mark Galloway, who is co-ordinating the LPP for Balerno Community Council (BCC), was at the Farmers Market on Saturday and a number of locals took time out to express their views.
He told councillors and local residents who attended the April meeting of the BCC of the importance of submitting an LPP to the City of Edinburgh Council.
Work started last summer and a public meeting was held in early March when members of the local community put forward their views.
Another is planned soon and an encouraging number of responses has been received from a survey circulated in the community.
Mark indicated that nearly 200 responses have been received so far and comments have included thoughts building on the Green Belt, planning, parking in and around the Main Street, the need for a park and ride facility, the provision of a train station for Balerno, plus the desire for more facilities for young people in the village.
The lack of sports facilities and play parks and the absence of a youth club have also been mentioned along with more public access to the Pentland Hills.
BCC have set up a working group to bring the plan together and they continue to meet, said Mark. Another public meeting is scheduled before the full proposals are submitted for local scrutiny.
Then the document will be finalised ahead of submission to the council in September.
So, if you missed the chance to speak Mark at the Farmers Market please fill in the survey which will chart the way forward to 2040.
Your view is important to us so take some time to communicate. This is your village, your home and we want to present the best possible case to the council.
Link: https://forms.gle/iW2cPhccxn9AYSQz5
 Please note that the survey responses will be gathered for assessment this weekend.

 
A number of local people attended the April meeting of Balerno Community Council seeking information about the prospect of a church being built in Balerno by St Mungo’s.
A number of questions were asked and Emma Galloway, who is on the St Mungo’s church vestry, confirmed that the church, which currently meets in Balerno High School, was working with architects and landscape specialists to draw up designs.
They are also talking to officials in the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning department.
Plans may be submitted in the Autumn for what is being called The Gateway Project and Emma stressed that the church was being open about the potential project. Details are available for scrutiny on the St Mungo’s website.
For reference, the land opposite Balerno High School was gifted to St Mungo’s in 1942 by a former church member who stipulated that the space should be used for a church.
St Mungo’s, she said, intend to improve the environment and develop an environmentally friendly area which locals could use. More details will be available at a later date.
 
Balerno Community Council (BCC) are to press the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) on behalf of local residents in a bid to rid an area of Balerno of a rat problem.
Householders in Cockburn Crescent were in touch because of a lack of action from the CEC despite a plea forwarded through Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, convener of Transport and the Environment.
One resident write: “It is concerning that we have not had any formal notification from them (CEC) as to their survey findings, nor assessment of the situation, despite several complaints.”
Councillor Graeme Bruce attended the April meeting and will raise the matter again and Richard Henderson, chairman of BCC, confirmed BCC would write to the CEC asking for a report on the situation.
 
Concerns over trees near the Kingfisher estate were expressed by a local resident who claimed that locals were moving their cars during high winds and that an elderly women was living in fear of a tree collapse.
Richard Henderson, chair of BCC, noted concerns and confirmed the organisation would forward them to the appropriate City of Edinburgh Council department.
 
The surface of Ladycroft was raised again and Councillor Graeme Bruce said he would press the CEC for some action.
 
Balerno Village Trust are continuing with work on the former police station in Balerno and Emma Galloway, a trust director, said that the building was to be called The Welcome Station.
She confirmed that work was scheduled to be completed on time in May and revealed that a new heating system has been installed and a grant received to upgrade toilets.
 

PARKING CHARGES IN THE PENTLANDS
The Pentland Hills Regional Park Joint Committee (PHRP) should be in no doubt about the strength of local feeling towards the scale of car parking charges being considered for across the Pentland Hills, and affecting Harlaw, Threipmuir, Bonaly and Flotterstone.
The issue was aired at length at Balerno Community Council’s (BCC) January 8 meeting.
The PHRP decision to charge was taken several years ago, and the proposed charges are to be considered by PHRP at its meeting on 14 January.
A six month trial, during which drivers were asked for a voluntary contribution, raised £35,057, but only 22 per cent of visitors paid.
BCC heard that the charges, if introduced, would be ringfenced to support the Pentland Hills Ranger Service, maintain public toilets and keep car parks and infrastructure in top condition.
Under the proposals, a season ticket is proposed for £110 - £55 for six months - but there would only be 800 season tickets due to what the City Council say are administration charges, but permit holders are not guaranteed a space at any venue.
The basic two hour charge is £2.50 and it will cost £5 a day (6am to 10pm), £10 for a vehicle parked overnight and £20 for a motorhome parked overnight.
Traffic orders have to be approved by the council before the charges can be introduced, but it is understood that they could be in place by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.
BCC heard from a member of the public that practice varied across Scotland, but that some similar car parks remained free and others did not have a scale of charges as high as those proposed.
Richard Henderson, chairman of BCC, stressed the need for “a safe route” from Balerno to the hills and indicated that he could see nothing in the report going to the PHRP committee about improving public transport access to the parks.
He noted that funds collected through charging could only be spent within the park area, meaning that money from parking charges could not be allocated towards creation of the safe route to the Pentlands.
He suggested that the community might consider that to be untenable.
The City Council would need to develop a more strategic view and approach.
BALERNO: LOCAL PLACE PLAN
The January meeting of Balerno Community Council (BCC) considered progress towards development of a Local Place Plan for Balerno.
The draft agenda highlighted both how the Council proposed to handle the process in general, and separately the development of a questionnaire as part of a process of public consultation.
BCC agreed to establish a small group to steer the process and also approved a draft questionnaire subject to some further amendments.
The group will include a member of the public who offered their services at the meeting.
A number of members of the public attended the meeting seeking clarity over proposed plans to build a church on land opposite Balerno High School, prompting extensive discussion on a number of issues.
It was emphasised that at present there was no active planning or other process in front of the City of Edinburgh Council concerning the land in question.
It was noted that BCC, having met twice with the church in question at their request, might wish to seek a further update.