July 2026: Issue 8
What's going on in the Grange Prestonfield communities in July 2026
Can you believe we’re already into July? The year is absolutely flying by, and with the schools officially out for the summer, the neighbourhood is definitely feeling a bit more lively. Whether you’re gearing up for a family holiday, planning a few staycation days, or just hoping the Edinburgh weather treats us to more sunshine than drizzle this month, we hope you’re managing to catch a breather.
We’ve got a packed issue for you this month. There’s a lot going on right on our doorstep - from some rather annoying roadworks at Cameron Toll to navigate, to some fantastic summer workshops, nature walks, and live music over at Bridgend Farmhouse and our local parks. We’re also keeping a close eye on a few big council plans that affect our streets, and we’ve got some great tips on how you can easily make your voice heard.
So, cozy up and let’s dive into what’s happening around our area this July!
What to Know About
The Big Local Chat: Parking, Pavements & Potholes
The Rankin Drive parking situation.
We mentioned this in our June issue, but the new parking restrictions for Rankin Drive are still approved, despite numerous objections. There’s been a lot of discussions between residents, GPCC and Edinburgh Council to investigate if there are any other avenues we could take to overturn the decision. We’ll keep you posted if this situation changes.Better walking streets (and what’s up with Leith Walk?)
Peter Jones from our committee popped along to the Living Streets Edinburgh annual meeting. They’ve had some good wins lately—like getting the pavements sorted out over in Broomhouse—but the big talk was about how messy some of Edinburgh’s newer cycle lanes are. We all love bike paths, but when they twist around, confuse pedestrians, or cramp the pavement (looking at you, Leith Walk!), it’s a bit of a nightmare. The group is pushing for real trees to act as natural barriers instead of just confusing zig-zag paint, and they’re arguing that the upcoming tourist tax should be spent strictly on fixing trip hazards so everyone can get around easily.Good news for Strathearn Road
If you were wondering what’s happening to the old closed Post Office Delivery Centre on Strathearn Road, our MP Ian Murray let us know that a local architecture firm is taking it over to turn it into their new studio and head office. It’ll be great to see that building getting some love and staying in use!
Dates for the Diary & Quick Notices
Southside / Newington By-Election (Sept 3rd)
Mark your calendars. Two city councillors have stepped down, so we’ll be heading to the polls on Thursday, September 3rd to elect someone new for our ward. Keep an eye on your letterbox or the Council website after July 15th for the official notices and info.Cameron Toll Roundabout Roadworks (July 3rd–6th)
Just a heads-up if you’re driving or getting the bus next weekend. Scottish Power needs to dig some trial holes at the Cameron Toll/Prestonfield Avenue junction. They’re closing the road and suspending the bus gate from Friday night (July 3rd) through Monday (July 6th). Diversions will be in place, but give yourself extra time!
Your Chance to Shape the Neighbourhood
Want a pedestrian crossing? Just point to the map!
The Council’s Road Safety team has launched a great new online mapping tool that stays open all year. If there’s a dangerous spot where you’ve always thought, “We desperately need a crossing here,” you can literally just log on, look at the map, and drop a pin on your chosen spot. They review these every three months and score them based on need, so it’s well worth doing.Big plans for Edinburgh 2040 (and your “Call for Ideas”)
The Council is drafting a massive blueprint for how Edinburgh should grow over the next decade, called City Plan 2040. Right now, it’s going through some strict government checks, but from July to September, they are launching a “Call for Ideas.” They want to hear from everyday residents about how to improve our local parks, spaces, and streets. You don’t need a fancy business case—just broad, good ideas. For the exact start date, please keep an eye on their webpage for City Plan 2040 or sign up to their Blog (they’re estimating it to be live by 6 July 2026).Public Entertainment Licensing Review
The Council is reviewing its rules on what places need a Public Entertainment Licence (and the conditions attached to them). This includes everything from standard conditions for sun tan salons (voted on in May to focus on staff training and safety) to broader entertainment venues. They want to hear from locals, and the consultation is open until August 4th, 2026.
The Big Picture stuff (Behind the Scenes)
The Edinburgh Partnership & Fighting Poverty
You might not have heard of them, but there’s a group called the Edinburgh Partnership where members (such as the Council, the NHS, the Police, and local charities) all sit down at the same table to coordinate how to run the city. Within their 2018 - 2028 plan, they are pouring their energy into three basic goals we can all get behind: making sure folk have enough money to live on, improving access to jobs and training, and simply making Edinburgh a great place to live. They’re starting to design the next Community Plan from the ground up, in the face of new challenges to communities and city life. A massive amount of quiet effort goes into this for the common good, so if you’ve got a spare five minutes, it’s well worth checking out their website to see what they’re up to. We really should be more aware of the good work they’re trying to do for our communities!Green micro-investing coming soon
Around September, the Council is planning to launch a cool little scheme called a Community Municipal Investment. Basically, it’s a way for local folks to loan the city a bit of cash (you can invest as little as £5 or £10) for about five years. You’ll get a bit of interest back, your money is safely backed by the Council, and the funds go directly into local green projects like planting trees, nature recovery, and making our streets healthier.Future Trams
Lastly, the Council is still plugging away at the business case for extending the tram line from Granton all the way down to the Bioquarter. They are reviewing all the feedback from last year’s public consultation, and a massive “make-or-break” decision on whether to actually progress the project further will be made at a big meeting on September 10th.
Stay updated via the GPCC website, which has had a bit of a refresh in content. You’ll find some new sub-links for hot topics such as Cameron Toll Redevelopment, Southside Local Place Plan, and Responding to a Planning Application. As always, you’ll find rolling news, the CEC Consultation Hub, and the latest from the Planning, Transport, and Culture committees as well. You can also review our June Draft Meeting Notes here.
What to See & Do
Wednesday 1st July, 5.30pm - 6.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse Talk: Are you a Munro bagger? Hear from John Knox about the man who started it all. Book here.
Friday 3rd July, 2.00pm - 3.30pm. Craigmillar Castle Park, Nature Walk: Summer Trees and Stories - Meet at Play Area in the Park. For more information contact elly@elgt.org.uk
Saturday 4th July, 11.00am onwards. Inch Park Volunteering: Meadow Maintenance. - Removing stands of Dock that are taking over.
Tuesday 7th July, 10.00am - 11.00 am. Prestonfield Bowling Green Tai Chi. For more information contact esperanza@elgt.org.uk
Wednesday 8th July, 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse Performance: The Kale Thieves - Music, comedy, and kale from husband and wife singer-songwriter duo Majk and Beth. Book here.
Saturday 11th July, 11.00am onwards. Inch Park Volunteering: Regular Monthly Litter Pick. - Community cleanup session.
Tuesday 14th July, 10.00am - 11.00 am. Prestonfield Bowling Green Tai Chi. For more information contact esperanza@elgt.org.uk
Tuesday 14th July, 12.00pm - 2.00pm. North Edinburgh Women's Cycling Group - Meet at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, 67b Groathill Rd North, EH4 2SA. To find out more information email emily@elgt.org.uk
Wednesday 15th July, 5.30pm - 6.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse Workshop: Seeing the Now - Photography and Mindfulness come together to explore connection and presence. Book here.
Wednesday 15th July, 5.30pm - 6.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse Talk: The Birds of Bass Rock - Beatrice McWilliams will talk about the amazing seabirds who make the Rock their home! Book here.
Saturday 18th July, 11.00am onwards. Inch Park Volunteering: Another INNS and Balsam control session, helping to tidy up the park and support biodiversity.
Tuesday 21st July, 12.00pm - 3.00pm. Jewel Park, Party by the Burn. Meet by the Niddrie Burn Bridge. Activities include Face Painting, Silent Disco, Pond Dipping, Hot food and wellbeing in nature. To more information email angus@elgt.org.uk
Wednesday 22nd July, 5pm - 8.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse Workshop: Learn to paint traditional Chinese style - Shan shui - with tutor and artist Sanmin Tan. Suitable for all levels including beginners. Book here.
Wednesday 22nd July, 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse Workshop: Campfire Songs - Join in with some Irish and Scottish classic singalongs, led by Henry Wilson. Book here.
Friday 24th July, 1.00pm - 3.30pm. Craigmillar Castle Park, Workshop: Summer Storytelling and Crafts. - Meet at Play Area in the Park. To book contact elly@elgt.org.uk
Wednesday 29th July, 5.30pm - 6.30pm. Bridgend Farmhouse, Workshop: Green Clean. - Sick of the chemicals and expense of shop bought cleaners? Linda will show you how to clean your home easily and cheaply, and you’ll make some to take home and try out. Book here.
Friday 31st July, 1.00pm - 3.30pm. Craigmillar Castle Park, Workshop: Woodland Musical Instruments. - Meet at Play Area in the Park. To book contact elly@elgt.org.uk
Did we miss an event? Let us know for our next issue here.
Want to get involved in your community?
Grange Prestonfield Community Council
We need you. Whether you care about local planning, green spaces, or community safety, we need volunteers to help us make this part of town work better for everyone. No experience is necessary - just a passion for your neighbourhood. Interested? Let’s chat.
Hear from Ian on why he got involved with GPCC:
Greetings. My name is Ian Wright. I got involved with GPCC in 2023 after becoming Chair of the Craigmillar Park Association CPA. It’s great to get involved in local groups. Since retirement, I’ve taken the attitude of saying yes to opportunities to get involved in local groups.
Community Councillors have the opportunity to be the eye’s and ears for Local ward Councillors, MEP’s and MP’s. They value our input as they can’t be everywhere. That way we can ensure the views and opinions of the community reach the correct people who can make real change or stop unwanted developments.
Getting involved in these groups is a great learning experience. It can take some time, but it’s very well worth the effort and I would recommend anyone who thinks it might be for them to get involved.
The photo gives a clue to my favourite hobby. (It’s St Anton in Austria)
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That’s us fully caught up for July! As you can see, there is a massive amount of quiet, hard work going into keeping our community a lovely, vibrant place to live - whether it’s folks volunteering to weed the meadows at Inch Park, or neighbours like Ian stepping up to make sure our voices aren’t lost in council bureaucracy.
If you’re out and about stretch of Dalkeith Road, do keep an eye out for our physical noticeboard too. We keep it updated with key bits and pieces for anyone who prefers their news offline.
Whatever you have planned for the rest of the month we hope you have a wonderful, relaxing July. Look after yourselves, keep an eye out for your neighbours, and we’ll catch you next month!