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Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Raging Edinburgh locals halt council meeting as they fume at noise from Fringe venue
Edinburgh residents have 'taken matters into their own hands' after years of living beside 'constant' noise from the Fringe during August. Dumbiedykes residents have branded it 'mental torture for over a month', when The Pleasance is set up for the festival. They spoke of young children going to school on 'no sleep', and said they 'can't take it anymore'. On June 11, an Edinburgh Council meeting was held - and residents made a 'desperate bid to finally be heard'. Councillor Hal Osler halted the meeting after residents, who she claimed were 'unable to speak', interrupted - in footage shared by Southside Community Council. READ MORE: Actor hits out at lifetime Jet2 ban after 'row over Pringles' on Edinburgh flight READ MORE: Edinburgh woman sues charity and earns £8k compensation payout over 'holiday row' The meeting covered various proposals, including the proposed temporary festival venue east of 60 Pleasance. This included temporary performance venues, catering units, bars and 'other movable structures', on an annual basis for a minimum of three years. In a live stream of the meeting, where The Pleasance festival venue was opened up for discussion, one of the residents can be heard saying: "Sorry folks, if you don't mind - just for two seconds." Before he is able to finish the councillor interjects. She states: "Excuse me, would you mind sitting down please. "You are unable to speak." Speaking over each other, the resident continues: "You haven't actually represented the people in regards to this. "Could you address the residents of Dumbiedykes as a committee." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Another resident interjects, adding: "The residents that are being tortured by this noise just want to be included as stakeholders. "Please reply to the Dumbiedykes residents that have emailed you all. We totally agree with some of the things councillors have said, and we want to work with them." Jessica Fenn, a member of the Southside Community Council, spoke to Edinburgh Live after the meeting. She told us: "They made it clear that they were really struggling to sleep. "They had constantly emailed and called councillors, and nothing has come of it. Complaints have been ignored or brushed aside. "We spoke to one resident who said his daughter gets so unwell in August. She can't sleep, missing school. "It's absolute torture for them." Residents in Dumbiedykes are pushing for closing time to be earlier during the week, and have said the 'big companies come from London to Edinburgh and make a lot of money that doesn't benefit residents'. Jessica continued: "Residents aren't seeing that trickle down that's supposed to happen from these companies. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "It's at the expense of the residents." One resident said: "They need to either scale it down or spread it out a bit more. "The back of my house literally backs on to it. Then you've got your mess with food trucks and beer trucks and it flies all over the place. "I've got kids that need to get up and go to school from 6am. We can't take it anymore." Since the meeting, councillors have decided to only give The Pleasance a one year contract - and have asked for a noise impact assessment. Jessica continued: "That was a small win, but it's not enough." Edinburgh Council have been approached for comment.
Edinburgh Live
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Raging Edinburgh locals halt council meeting as they fume at noise from Fringe venue
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh residents have 'taken matters into their own hands' after years of living beside 'constant' noise from the Fringe during August. Dumbiedykes residents have branded it 'mental torture for over a month', when The Pleasance is set up for the festival. They spoke of young children going to school on 'no sleep', and said they 'can't take it anymore'. On June 11, an Edinburgh Council meeting was held - and residents made a 'desperate bid to finally be heard'. Councillor Hal Osler halted the meeting after residents, who she claimed were 'unable to speak', interrupted - in footage shared by Southside Community Council. The meeting covered various proposals, including the proposed temporary festival venue east of 60 Pleasance. This included temporary performance venues, catering units, bars and 'other movable structures', on an annual basis for a minimum of three years. In a live stream of the meeting, where The Pleasance festival venue was opened up for discussion, one of the residents can be heard saying: "Sorry folks, if you don't mind - just for two seconds." Before he is able to finish the councillor interjects. She states: "Excuse me, would you mind sitting down please. "You are unable to speak." Speaking over each other, the resident continues: "You haven't actually represented the people in regards to this. "Could you address the residents of Dumbiedykes as a committee." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Another resident interjects, adding: "The residents that are being tortured by this noise just want to be included as stakeholders. "Please reply to the Dumbiedykes residents that have emailed you all. We totally agree with some of the things councillors have said, and we want to work with them." Jessica Fenn, a member of the Southside Community Council, spoke to Edinburgh Live after the meeting. She told us: "They made it clear that they were really struggling to sleep. "They had constantly emailed and called councillors, and nothing has come of it. Complaints have been ignored or brushed aside. "We spoke to one resident who said his daughter gets so unwell in August. She can't sleep, missing school. "It's absolute torture for them." Residents in Dumbiedykes are pushing for closing time to be earlier during the week, and have said the 'big companies come from London to Edinburgh and make a lot of money that doesn't benefit residents'. Jessica continued: "Residents aren't seeing that trickle down that's supposed to happen from these companies. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "It's at the expense of the residents." One resident said: "They need to either scale it down or spread it out a bit more. "The back of my house literally backs on to it. Then you've got your mess with food trucks and beer trucks and it flies all over the place. "I've got kids that need to get up and go to school from 6am. We can't take it anymore." Since the meeting, councillors have decided to only give The Pleasance a one year contract - and have asked for a noise impact assessment. Jessica continued: "That was a small win, but it's not enough." Edinburgh Council have been approached for comment.
Scotsman
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Anger as Edinburgh councillor gets £6,000 raise to act as vice-convener of a planning committee
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now The creation of a new £32,000 per year role as the vice-leader of an Edinburgh Council committee has been slammed as a 'an outrageous misuse of public funds'. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The new role of vice-convener of the Development Management Sub-Committee – a 'quasi-judicial' committee that handles planning matters – was approved at the city's full council meeting on Thursday. And the council leader told a full committee meeting that those disagreeing with the decision should 'look at the facts'. The office holder will be expected to substitute for the convener if they are not present. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Conservative councillor Max Mitchell will take up the new role, with Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler continuing to convene the committee. And the new role will give Mr Mitchell a £6,000 pay boost – something which prompted criticism from other elected members in the chamber. Councillor Alys Mumford, the planning spokesperson for the Green group, said: 'The creation of a new, unnecessary position by the council administration is an outrageous misuse of public funds. 'It is absolutely right that there are paid positions leading the council's work to tackle some of the huge issues facing our residents, but to see this system treated with such disdain by the Labour Party to give jobs to their allies and shore up votes should shock the people of Edinburgh. 'Green councillors have some serious questions for the Labour Party about how they can justify spending public money in this way, and will be keeping a very close eye on this new position to see if there is any benefit at all for the people we have been elected to serve.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The new role will see Conservative councillor Max Mitchell get a £6,000 pay bump. | LDR There were also accusations that the new role was effectively a way for the Labour administration to 'buy' support from opposition councillors. Councillor Simita Kumar, the leader of the SNP group, said: 'We knew that Labour was buying support from the Tories for staying in power. 'But creating yet another fake job for a Conservative is a slap in the face. It's clear that Labour councillors will do any deal with the Tories, no matter how grubby, to cling onto administration. Edinburgh deserves better.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher told councillors: 'I quickly want to knock on the head this myth that's constantly being perpetuated that there's some sort of a formal arrangement. There isn't. 'However, we know that the sheer arithmetic of this chamber means that three parties have to support an administration. And it's about who can maintain the confidence of sufficient numbers of the whole chamber. Ignore your flaunted opinions, look at the facts.' Several councillors told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they believed that the Development Management Sub-Committee, and other quasi-judicial committees, do not need a vice convener – but that several of the larger 'policy' committees do need them. And independent councillor Ross McKenzie saying: 'Labour bosses dictated after the 2022 council elections that Labour should not be allowed to enter any coalitions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'They were allowed to offer quasi-judicial roles to other parties, and the provost, but they weren't allowed to offer convenerships on any policy positions. 'So that's why they have to carve it up. The only way to be in power is to pay off some people to vote for you by giving them [Development Management Sub-Committee] jobs. And that's essentially what they do. It's nakedly self-serving.' Cllr Mitchell represents Inverleith ward, and was returned at the 2022 Edinburgh Council elections. Cllr McKenzie, who was a Labour councillor until he left the party in the middle of a budget meeting in 2023, suggested current Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda would have been a good fit for the role instead. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'She has the potential to be a really good convener, and she's clearly one of the most competent councillors in the group. 'She's the one person they won't give [such a role] to. But they're happy to give another one to the Tories.'
Edinburgh Reporter
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Anger at councillor's £6k raise to act as vice-convener of a planning committee
The creation of a new £32k per year role as the vice-leader of an Edinburgh Council committee has been slammed as a 'an outrageous misuse of public funds'. The new role of vice-convener of the Development Management Sub-Committee – a 'quasi-judicial' committee that handles planning matters – was approved at the city's full council meeting on Thursday. And the council leader told a full committee meeting that those disagreeing with the decision should 'look at the facts'. The office holder will be expected to substitute for the convener if they are not present. Conservative councillor Max Mitchell will take up the new role, with Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler continuing to convene the committee. And the new role will give Mr Mitchell a £6k pay boost – something which prompted criticism from other elected members in the chamber. Councillor Alys Mumford, the planning spokesperson for the Green group, said: 'The creation of a new, unnecessary position by the council administration is an outrageous misuse of public funds. 'It is absolutely right that there are paid positions leading the council's work to tackle some of the huge issues facing our residents, but to see this system treated with such disdain by the Labour Party to give jobs to their allies and shore up votes should shock the people of Edinburgh. 'Green councillors have some serious questions for the Labour Party about how they can justify spending public money in this way, and will be keeping a very close eye on this new position to see if there is any benefit at all for the people we have been elected to serve.' There were also accusations that the new role was effectively a way for the Labour administration to 'buy' support from opposition councillors. Councillor Simita Kumar, the leader of the SNP group, said: 'We knew that Labour was buying support from the Tories for staying in power. 'But creating yet another fake job for a Conservative is a slap in the face. It's clear that Labour councillors will do any deal with the Tories, no matter how grubby, to cling onto administration. Edinburgh deserves better.' But council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher told councillors yesterday: 'I quickly want to knock on the head this myth that's constantly being perpetuated that there's some sort of a formal arrangement. There isn't. 'However, we know that the sheer arithmetic of this chamber means that three parties have to support an administration. 'And it's about who can maintain the confidence of sufficient numbers of the whole chamber. Ignore your flaunted opinions, look at the facts.' In the report issued by officers before the meeting it states that 'the Council currently has 19 senior councillors (maximum 24) and spends £733,826 of the £955,455 allowance'. Several councillors told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they believed that the Development Management Sub-Committee, and other quasi-judicial committees, do not need a vice convener – but that several of the larger 'policy' committees do need them. And independent councillor Ross McKenzie saying: 'Labour bosses dictated after the 2022 council elections that Labour should not be allowed to enter any coalitions. 'They were allowed to offer quasi-judicial roles to other parties, and the provost, but they weren't allowed to offer convenerships on any policy positions. 'So that's why they have to carve it up. The only way to be in power is to pay off some people to vote for you by giving them [Development Management Sub-Committee] jobs. And that's essentially what they do. It's nakedly self-serving.' Cllr Mitchell represents Inverleith ward, and was returned at the 2022 Edinburgh Council elections. Cllr McKenzie, who was a Labour councillor until he left the party in the middle of a budget meeting in 2023, suggested current Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda would have been a good fit for the role instead. He said: 'She has the potential to be a really good convener, and she's clearly one of the most competent councillors in the group. 'She's the one person they won't give [such a role] to. But they're happy to give another one to the Tories.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
New £32k per year role for Edinburgh councillor an 'outrageous misuse of public funds'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The creation of a new £32k per year role as the vice-leader of an Edinburgh Council committee has been slammed as "an outrageous misuse of public funds". The new role of vice-convener of the Development Management Sub-Committee - a 'quasi-judicial' committee that handles planning matters - was approved at the city's full council meeting on Thursday. And the council leader told a full committee meeting that those disagreeing with the decision should "look at the facts". The office holder will be expected to substitute for the convener if they are not present. Conservative councillor Max Mitchell will take up the new role, with Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler continuing to convene the committee. And the new role will give Mr Mitchell a £6k pay boost - something which prompted criticism from other elected members in the chamber. Councillor Alys Mumford, the planning spokesperson for the Green group, said: 'The creation of a new, unnecessary position by the council administration is an outrageous misuse of public funds. 'It is absolutely right that there are paid positions leading the council's work to tackle some of the huge issues facing our residents, but to see this system treated with such disdain by the Labour Party to give jobs to their allies and shore up votes should shock the people of Edinburgh. 'Green councillors have some serious questions for the Labour Party about how they can justify spending public money in this way, and will be keeping a very close eye on this new position to see if there is any benefit at all for the people we have been elected to serve.' There were also accusations that the new role was effectively a way for the Labour administration to "buy" support from opposition councillors. Councillor Simita Kumar, the leader of the SNP group, said: 'We knew that Labour was buying support from the Tories for staying in power. 'But creating yet another fake job for a Conservative is a slap in the face. It's clear that Labour councillors will do any deal with the Tories, no matter how grubby, to cling onto administration. Edinburgh deserves better.' But council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher told councillors yesterday: "I quickly want to knock on the head this myth that's constantly being perpetuated that there's some sort of a formal arrangement. There isn't. "However, we know that the sheer arithmetic of this chamber means that three parties have to support an administration. "And it's about who can maintain the confidence of sufficient numbers of the whole chamber. Ignore your flaunted opinions, look at the facts." Several councillors told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they believed that the Development Management Sub-Committee, and other quasi-judicial committees, do not need a vice convener – but that several of the larger 'policy' committees do need them. And independent councillor Ross McKenzie saying: 'Labour bosses dictated after the 2022 council elections that Labour should not be allowed to enter any coalitions. 'They were allowed to offer quasi-judicial roles to other parties, and the provost, but they weren't allowed to offer convenerships on any policy positions. 'So that's why they have to carve it up. The only way to be in power is to pay off some people to vote for you by giving them [Development Management Sub-Committee] jobs. And that's essentially what they do. It's nakedly self-serving.' Cllr Mitchell represents Inverleith ward, and was returned at the 2022 Edinburgh Council elections. Cllr McKenzie, who was a Labour councillor until he left the party in the middle of a budget meeting in 2023, suggested current Labour councillor Katrina Faccenda would have been a good fit for the role instead. He said: 'She has the potential to be a really good convener, and she's clearly one of the most competent councillors in the group. 'She's the one person they won't give [such a role] to. But they're happy to give another one to the Tories.'
