January 2026: Issue 2
What's going on in the Grange Prestonfield communities in January 2026
The ornaments may be packed away, your kitchen might be filled with sticky, fingerprinted glasses from ushering the night in, and you might have even noticed the extra minutes of daylight lingering in the skies since the Winter Solstice.
It’s time to turn the calendars and welcome in that fresh start feeling.
Welcome to 2026. We’re so glad you’re here!
What to Know About
Christmas Tree Collections: The Council has published its Christmas tree recycling and waste collection arrangements. To find out when to put your Christmas tree on the kerb for collection, click here.
City Plan 2040 - What Makes a Good Place?: Ever want to say how you, a local resident, feel about where you live in the city? In less than 10 minutes, you can share your views with Edinburgh Council on how to make Edinburgh City reflect what matters most to you. Complete the questionnaire here by 23 Jan 2026. It covers the key things that make a good place to live such as housing, local shops and services, healthcare, open space, play, community space, jobs and public transport.
Local Traffic Improvement Plan (LTIP): The LTIP Programme is intended to improve local access for people walking and cycling in our communities and consider the introduction of small traffic schemes to mitigate or eliminate the impact of intrusive road traffic in residential areas. The Grange Prestonfield Community Council (GPCC) will look to shape funding request submissions in respect of the junctions Kilgraston Road / Grange Loan and East Mayfield / Dalkeith Road by 26 January 2026. If you’d like to nominate a project, please let us know.
Grange Award for 2026: The Grange Award is presented biennially at the Association’s AGM for a significant positive contribution to the amenity and public appearance of the Grange. That can be to the owner or developer of a site that has been improved in the last couple of years, or to a person or group that has made an exceptional contribution in other ways to the environment, amenity and appearance of the Grange Association’s area. Nominations can include new buildings, extensions, refurbishment, boundary walls or landscaping including tree planting that have been completed since January 2023. To learn how to apply, click here (applications due Friday 31 January 2026).
Truth About Youth Survey: Are you, or do you know someone, 11-25 years old in your life? A new “Truth About Youth” survey has launched, and it explores the realities of growing up in Scotland today - from exposure to cyber crimes and scams, social media, body image and mental wellbeing. It closes 31 January 2026. Need to convince a young person in your life? Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a Nintendo Switch 2.
Consultation on school ban on mobile phones: A Council consultation is expected to open in January on the banning of mobile phones in Edinburgh’s secondary schools. It will be carried on the Council’s Consultation Hub and the proposition is seen as likely to gain strong support from parents and teachers. A primary school ban is expected to come into force early in the year. A secondary school ban would follow late in 2026, once procedural steps have been completed. The proposition follows successful trial schemes at Portobello and Queensferry High Schools. Find out more here.
Proposals for Redeveloping Cameron Toll Shopping Centre: New Masterplan proposals are now emerging for a major redevelopment of Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, bringing work on the idea in recent years to a head. The proposals are to for “mixed use development potentially comprising retail, commercial, residential, student accommodation, later living accommodation, hotel, office space, sports/leisure and community uses and public realm, along with associated landscaping and infrastructure”. At this stage it is just a location plan and a statement of intent. You can read more here.
The developer has held one community engagement event in December and developed this storyboard of their vision. There is another community event coming up on 05 February 2026 from 2-7pm in the Central Mall.
Sun Tan Licensing: A new set of Public Entertainment Licensing conditions are to be drafted specifically for Sun Tan Centres. If you have a view on Sun Tan Centre’s licensing, please get in touch here by 19 February 2026.
Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ)
Introduction of CPZ to B1: B1 runs east-west across the upper half of the GPCC boundary area. Priority Parking Areas (PPA) with part-time restrictions will be replaced by a Controlled Parking Zone where all kerbside space is managed. This will take place in Q1 2026. Read more here.
CPZ & S8 (Blackford Newington): Following June 2025 local consultation, a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) setting out the intended detail for CPZ S8 is expected to be tabled for Council Committee on 17 March 2026. Consultation dates and information on how to voice your opinion will be advertised for a short period only, after which there will be no further consultation. The reference code to jot down is TRO/24/12.
Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN): There is a delay in the SPEN cabling project, which is mapped to run from the Grid Supply Point at Newbattle Terrace, east through the Grange, south through Blackford to King’s Buildings and south through to Shawfair. The supplier contracts are still to be completed, but once the contracts are signed, it’s expected to be a 15 to 18-month project as it progresses, with significant local disruption. We can expect commencement in H1 2026. There’s more background on the project form the Grange Association that can be found here.
University of Edinburgh Community Plan 2025-2030: The UoE has officially launched its new Community Plan 2025–2030, setting out a roadmap for how it will work in partnership with local communities over the next five years. The new Plan centres around three priorities: partnering for positive social impact; promoting equalities now, and in the future; and thriving communities. It outlines how the University will continue to support community-driven change, widen access to knowledge and skills, and promote inclusive growth. To read the full plan and get involved, please find out more here.
Blacket Conservation Area: In Blacket we are fortunate to have a fair amount of green common space that needs care beyond that which the Council can provide. Once a quarter, volunteers in Blacket come out to help clear the paths of leaves and litter and to cut back the undergrowth. The Council workers are very cooperative with their efforts: they provide large sacks for green waste and will pick these up, they also cut back the areas which need more industrial-sized equipment. The Blacket Association has available funds and is looking for ways to enhance our area through new projects. To share any ideas, please reach out to blacket.association@gmail.com.
Living Streets Edinburgh Group (LSEG): LSEG is setting out its case for a substantial increase in Council spend on footway maintenance and improvement, in advance of the Council’s 2026/27 budget planning. GPCC is supportive of the principle and will look to shape a short submission to the Council. To get involved, email GPCC, lobby your local councillors or reach out to LSEG directly at edinburghgroup@livingstreets.org.uk.
Local Place Plans: Is there a local area, site or layout you think could be given a lift? Is there a ‘space’ you think needs safeguarding or enhancing, or an area that could have a road safety, better mobility or environment focus? If you’ve got an idea that would work as part of the Local Place Plan, please share it with GPCC and we can work together to bring it to life.
Road Safety Delivery Plan 2025 - 6 Month Update: This is a comprehensive six-month review of the Road Safety Delivery Plan 2025/26 approved in April 2025. It’s a long read, but worth it to see what updates are planned around where you live, work and / or commute. It also introduces the new Safer Streets prioritisation process as a basis for active intervention, along with a new Pedestrian Crossings framework, where the public will be able to log requests for assessment of new crossing provision. There is also an update on the council’s position on Road Safety education for school pupil and young people. The changes are a long road to travel down, but steps are being taken.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA): SEPA has opened a public consultation, on the theme of ‘Significant Water Management Issues’; issues that are having a significant adverse impact on the condition of the water environment and must be tackled. Share your views with SEPA here.
December 2025’s draft meeting minutes can be found here.
What to See & Do
05 January 10:30-11am - Ring in the New Year with your little one(s) at Newington Library’s first Book Bug of 2026.
09 January 1-3pm - Winter Bike Ride with Bridgend Farmhouse. Enjoy a relaxed, social bike ride this winter with our guided community rides. These rides are designed to be friendly and accessible for a wide range of abilities. To book, visit here.
14 January 6-8pm - Discover your ADHD strengths and potential in this 6-week in-person adult evening course with Carol Stobie - ADHD Coach and late-diagnosed ADHDer - in a welcoming space at Bridgend Farmhouse. It’s designed to help you better understand your unique brain and unlock your full potential. Cost is £110 (or £65 for low income households). To book, visit here.
20 January 7:30pm - Join us at St Catherine’s Argyle Church, Grange Road where the Grange Association are delighted to welcome James Ogilvie, who will give a talk entitled ‘On a Tall Ship to Antarctica’. Doors open at 7:00pm. Please note there is a £5 entry charge for non-members. You can find more info here.
24 January 10-3:30pm - Come along to Bridgend Farmhouse for a Stained Glass Workshop. Make your own agate tealight holder with our experienced volunteer Stuart. Cost is £25 (or £20 with a neighbour card). All materials are supplied. To book, visit here.
31 January - Celebrate Burns Night at Inch House. Tickets will be on sale soon, check back to this page.
Did we miss an event? Let us know for our next issue here.
We Need More People Like You
Thank you for reading. As of publishing, we have 121 subscribers for an area that serves over 16,000 people. Do you know someone - resident, neighbour, family member or friend in the area - who would get value from these updates? Share The Grange Prestonfield Voice by clicking the green button below.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely just the type of person we need to get more actively involved in the Grange Prestonfield Community Council. Hear from Ken Robertson on why he joined below:
“I’m the secretary of GPCC at the moment. I joined in 2019. I’m involved because I care about what goes on around where I live and I care about how our city is guided and managed by the people in charge. I want to know what is happening and why, and I want some sort of say in all of that.
What I know is that if you don’t speak up, you aren’t heard. If you aren’t heard you won’t be listened to. If you’re not listened to, it’s hard to influence what happens beyond your front door.
Your neighbourhood and the city are all about your place, space, amenity and welfare. Your community council’s work is about edging forward on each of these fronts.
Think about it. There’s always something on our agenda. If you have some time and energy, and some commitment, this could be for you.”
If you’ve ever thought or dreamed about impacting your community with change that you can see, consider getting more involved in GPCC. You can email us at gpccengagement@gmail.com.
If you have any comments or feedback about The Voice, feel free to email GPCC’s Engagement Officer here.
We hope your January is full of crisp daylight walks, a Burn’s Night celebration, small delights in spotting the first signs of spring, and a happy healthy time for you and your friends and family.
See you in February!