release 96- Lies, Damn Lies and NO statistics-- 09-03-2012

CHARLOTTE SQUARE:  LIES, DAMN LIES AND NO STATISTICS?

  • We have recently had some tantalising glimpses of a scheme for a part of the city that, for once, justifies the use of the word iconic: Charlotte Square.

 

  • A development funded in the main by a Russian businessman holds out the opportunity of converting the Square from a streetscape that is frankly a bit of a mess, into a location that will justify it’s worldwide reputation--- home to a world class hotel and office development and with the high quality paving and road surfacing, street furniture and all the rest to set the seal on it.

 

  • So

release 95- Southern Arc ; of confusion -

  • A recent report from the Council triggered by health statistic anomalies has raised concerns about traffic created pollution and its effects - This new found concern has been expressed in recent media articles as being of sufficient scale to demand consideration of extensive traffic controls. ------- This all stands in harsh contrast to the attempts by the Council to suppress similar concerns that have been expressed for a number of years by residents in the ‘Northern Arc’. 

release 95 - Southern Arc of Confusion-02-03-2012


An ‘Arc of confusion’ from CEC

 

  • A recent report from the Council triggered by health statistic anomalies has raised concerns about traffic created pollution and its effects - This new found concern has been expressed in recent media articles as being of sufficient scale to demand consideration of extensive traffic controls.

 

  • This all stands in harsh contrast to the attempts by the Council to suppress similar concerns that have been expressed for a number of years by residents in the ‘Northern Arc’. Concerns both as to the effects of council created traffic pollution increases in their own

release 94- Who said what to who?-- 20-02-2012

  • Once the change in policy became evident, by February 2011. when the non release was confirmed, the residents immediately began asking on what basis this change had occurred but were given no answer---until a few days ago.
  •  The answer as to how and why this decision was taken raises more questions than it answers although it shines a light on the lamentable state of public governance in the city.

release 94 - Who said what to who- 21-02-1012

KEY POLICY CHANGE SURROUNDED IN CONFUSION & MYSTERY

  • Until December 2010 the Council were routinely revealing what are called ‘raw’ or ‘unvalidated’ figures for air quality levels, in terms of one ‘marker’ pollutant N02-Nitrogen Dioxide..

 

  • That month, when DEFRA changed their guidelines on measuring air pollution to clarify an issue residents had identified was inevitably leading to under estimating of the pollutant by the Council, the release of the raw figures stopped.

 

  • Once the change in policy became evident, by February 2011. when the non release was confirmed, the residents immediately

release 93 - Workshops report warning - 20-12-2012

TRAM WORKSHOP REPORT CONTROVERSY

  • The ‘Tram Workshops’ process was proposed by Councillors as a way of bringing together in meaningful engagement the Council managers of the Edinburgh Traffic system and the residents unhappy at the effects of the Tram project on the City traffic flows.

 

  • The ‘ Tram Workshops’ process which was voted for at the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) Transport, Infrastructure and Environment committee (TI&E) as a way to address repeated complaints from residents that they felt they ahd no way of making concerns to their own council.

 

  • Having seen Councillors gagged by

release 93- Workshops report warning- 20-12-2011

TRAM WORKSHOP REPORT CONTROVERSY

  •  The ‘Tram Workshops’ process was proposed by Councillors as a way of bringing together in meaningful engagement the Council managers of the Edinburgh Traffic system and the residents unhappy at the effects of the Tram project on the City traffic flows.--- It has not worked out like that

release 91b- UNITED NATIONS hearing outcome briefing notes-19-12-2011

        An initial attempt by the UK government Barrister to portray the issue as a small one affecting a very small number of people, and therefore out-with the remit of the committee was not accepted.

        Then, following a full day’s hearing, the committee have requested more information by mid-January deadline (later amended to late March) , in order to arrive at a judgement on the issue. 

release 91b- United Nations meeting outcome briefing notes- 19-12-2011

Update on the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee hearing last week

 

        The resident’s group feel it went very well for them in terms of the attention paid to the arguments by the committee.

 

        An initial attempt by the UK government Barrister to portray the issue as a small one affecting a very small number of people, and therefore out-with the remit of the committee was not accepted.

 

        Then, following a full day’s hearing, the committee have requested more information by mid-January deadline (later amended to late March) , in order to arrive at a judgement on

release 89- United Nations Invitation to Edinburgh man - 13-12-2011

Two Edinburgh Residents are going to the United Nations’ Palais des Nations Building in Geneva this week to address the UN’s Aarhus Convention committee. The reason for their invitation is that the committee feel there is a Prima Facie case to believe Edinburgh Council may have broken their own rules for ensuring proper Public consultation and involvement, over the Tram scheme. 

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