Author: EBUG chair

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Developer Contributions to infrastructure under the City Plan 2030

The City of Edinburgh Council is consulting on guidance for Developer Contributions to infrastructure under the ‘City Plan 2030’. (Here, until 17 September: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/developer-contributions-sup-guidance/ )

Developer Contributions are funds secured from developers to pay for facilities needed because of the development; such as improved transport, school buildings etc. They can cover the cost of new services needed to serve the development.

EBUG also sent written comments to the Council. The main points are:

EBUG has commented previously on Developer Contributions:
https://edinburghbususers.group/missed-opportunity-to-improve-city-buses
https://edinburghbususers.group/cammo-meadows-planning-for-public-transport

In summary, we believe that in recent years, the City of Edinburgh Council has missed opportunities to use the planning process to improve bus services, via Section 75 and direct developer action.

Continue reading “Developer Contributions to infrastructure under the City Plan 2030”

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No. 15 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin July 2024

Dear EBUG member,

Welcome to the latest EBUG Bulletin.

  • Our AGM took place on 6 June. After the business, the main event was a discussion with Professor David Begg; a full report is here. There are now 8 members on our Committee leaving three vacancies. We are particularly keen to attract younger people to join, but members who don’t consider themselves young are of course also welcome. Let us know if you are interested.
  • The General Election then took over the headlines. As almost all bus-related matters are devolved, the direct consequences in Scotland are limited, but of course the UK-wide context is important.
  • Meanwhile, having been elected MP for Edinburgh South West, Scott Arthur will stand down – probably after the summer – as a Councillor and Convenor of Transport and Environment at the City of Edinburgh Council. Technically, Edinburgh’s Transport Convenor just chairs meetings of the Committee, but of course much more happens behind the scenes. Who has the role is therefore important, and we will write an open letter to the new Convenor in due course.
    Scott Arthur was a very active Convenor. Apart from addressing the 2023 EBUG AGM, he steered the city away from the worst of the threats to its buses, restored a degree of balance to the activities of the relevant departments, and put buses back at the centre of transport planning. Under his Convenorship, the Council rounded off a multitude of policies and plans, leaving the rest of this Council term to focus on delivery.
    While Scott helped to root out some of the more fanciful ideas within the Council, we must remain vigilant. We hope the next Convenor will progress with his legacy.

Continue reading “No. 15 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin July 2024”

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EBUG Annual General Meeting; agenda and Committee’s report

18:00 on Thursday 6 June 2024, in the Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
Agenda
1. Welcome, Apologies
2. To agree: minutes of 2023 AGM
3. To agree: Committee report 2023/24
4. To agree: Accounts 2023/24 (independently examined and signed*)
4. To elect: members of EBUG’s Committee
5. Guest Speaker David Begg will talk on: “Lothian Buses are the jewel in Edinburgh’s transport crown: don’t let traffic congestion destroy it”
6. Q&A
 * signed version was uploaded 29-05-24

Continue reading “EBUG Annual General Meeting; agenda and Committee’s report”

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Edinburgh Bus Station; 1957 – ?

On 24 April, Edinburgh Live, followed by other media outlets, reported that the owners of the Edinburgh bus station site are seeking to redevelop it, without a bus station.

The City of Edinburgh Council’s bus station lease expires in 2027, so there are three years to resolve the problem, or Edinburgh will be left without a bus station.

The response of residents seems to be almost universal dismay. Many weren’t aware that the site is leased, not owned, by the Council. At the foot of this article is an appendix setting out its history.

Continue reading “Edinburgh Bus Station; 1957 – ?”

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No. 14 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin February 2024

Welcome to the latest EBUG Bulletin.

    • The new on-street Real-Time Information screens are still displaying timetable, not real-time, timings for Lothian Buses. An update is expected at the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee on 7 March.
    • In January we took part in a ‘stakeholder discussion’ about Elm Row. This was productive and we are now looking forward to significant improvements to the bus stops there.

Continue reading “No. 14 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin February 2024”

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No. 13 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin December 2023

Dear EBUG member,

First of all, apologies to any members who didn’t receive our last Bulletin (Bulletin 12), due to the temporary unavailability of our usual method of posting it. You can still see it here on our website. along with other bus related news.

  • Complaints continue to grow about the new on-street Real-Time Information screens, which are displaying timetable, not real-time, timings for Lothian Buses but not, apparently, for other operators. There’s been much confusion. There’s an explanation by Scott Arthur here. The situation continues to develop.

Continue reading “No. 13 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin December 2023”

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No. 11 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin June 2023

Dear EBUG member,

This is the eleventh of our occasional updates for members. While the previous edition also served as the official notification for our upcoming AGM, we now provide our members with the agenda and associated documents.

To remind you: the AGM is on Wednesday June 21, at 18:00 in the Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Our Guest Speaker is Councillor Scott Arthur, Convener of Transport and Environment at the City of Edinburgh Council.

Agenda
1. Welcome, Apologies
2. Approve minutes of 2022 AGM
3. Committee report and accounts 2023
4. Elections to the committee
5. Councillor Scott Arthur: “Integrating walking, bus and tram in the transport hierarchy”
6. Q&A

Continue reading “No. 11 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin June 2023”

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No.10 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin March 2023

Dear EBUG member,

This is the tenth of our occasional updates for members.

Our AGM is on Wednesday June 21, at 18:00 in the Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Our Guest Speaker will be Councillor Scott Arthur, Convener of Transport and Environment at the City of Edinburgh Council.

This Members’ Bulletin is the official notification to all members, as required by EBUG’s constitution.

Continue reading “No.10 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin March 2023”

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No.9 – Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group: Members’ Bulletin October 2022 EBUG

Dear EBUG member,

This is the ninth of our occasional updates for members.

Our AGM took place on Thursday June 30, as publicised in the previous Members’ Bulletin (number 8, May 2022).

The main formalities were election of the Committee; as follows:

Chair: Harald Tobermann
Secretary: Chris Day
Treasurer: Bob Moseley
 

Also elected to the Committee: Sally Millar, Jennifer Marlborough, Gail Clapton, Colin Brown, Fiona McLean (3 places vacant).

The AGM heard from Jess Pepper of lovemybus, which spreads a positive message about buses rather than overt campaigning. Jess reflected on the mismatch between buses’ importance to daily life and the (e.g. media) attention they get. The campaign now aims to establish an upwards spiral in attitudes to bus travel.