REPRESENTATION ON PLANNING APPLICATION:  20/03167/FUL  -  30-32 Bridge Road, Colinton

Colinton Community Council (ColCC) has received comments from the local community on the above.

Current Covid restrictions prevent ColCC from meeting in public to agree a formal Community Council representation but the following position has been agreed among its members.

Comments received fall into two main categories:-

• Broadly supportive - These generally express the view that these empty premises, which have been vacant for a considerable time now, are unhelpful in terms of commercial activity and present an inappropriately unpleasant character in a Conservation Village.        
  
  However, most of this supportive group also expressed reservations about the precise details of the use.   Some felt Italian food would be inappropriate – the village already contains two Italian restaurants and a carry-out pizza outlet.   Others oppose any form of carry- out trade.   
• Strongly opposed – Those living closest to the proposals object on various grounds including traffic, noise, smell, litter and visual intrusion.         
  
  The applicants have submitted noise, odour and traffic assessments.   ColCC does not have access to specialist advice on these issues but urges City of Edinburgh Council to take special care and, if minded to grant permission, impose tight specific conditions to control them:-             
  
  
  • Noise:   The reports refer to guideline acceptable noise level standards which relate to building fabric criteria.   However, there is no comment or consideration of the nuisance value of persistent humming noises or vibration at low levels.             
    
    Nor is there any satisfactory evaluation of the actual performance of key elements such as the existing flues at upper levels which are to be used as ducts.   Older flues often have relatively thin stone or brick walls (sometimes as little as 75mm) and old lime mortar joints have usually deteriorated internally, leaving increased airspaces through which noise penetration to adjacent habitations will be significantly greater than the theoretical figure.  
    
    The opening hours proposed mean noise from vehicles and customers using these premises late into the night, when other ambient noise is at its lowest, would also be likely to create serious disturbance in the immediate vicinity.           
  • Litter:   It is inevitable that any carry-out trade will generate litter in the immediate surroundings and it is some distance to the nearest litter bins.   The pavement on Bridge Road is very narrow at this point and it will be impossible to place receptacles outside these premises without unacceptably blocking the footway.  
  • Queuing:   Residents are also (rightly) concerned about queues forming outside on this narrow footpath, creating significant obstruction in daytime (particularly at present when social distancing will be seriously inhibited) and at night when noise nuisance will be increased outside in the street.   The narrow road here has hard stone walls on both sides reflecting noise and increasing the levels at receptors. 
  • Traffic:   There is no formal parking at this point and a “blind” corner just uphill to the East.   Carry-out trade in particular will generate illegal parking here during the day and a possibly dangerous obstruction at night.    

The City Council should not grant a consent which does not fully address these points.

Tom McDonald

Chair,  Colinton Community Council

8^th September 2020