Raging Edinburgh locals say new beachfront market has been 'forced on them'

Edinburgh residents claim they "were not told" about plans for a new seafront market which has been "forced on them".

On Saturday, July 6, Edinburgh Live reported how the team behind Stockbridge's Neighbourgood Market revealed they are set to launch a new venue at Portobello Beach with food and drink stalls.

The site on which the market will be erected is a vacant area of land on Pipe Lane, just off the promenade, which has raised concerns among local residents due to the influx of visitors over a busy period.

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Edinburgh Live spoke to several residents on the nearby Harbour Place and Pipe Lane regarding the new market, with many expressing concerns over the parking situation, noise pollution and available toilet facilities.

It is understood the market will operate seven days a week, from 12pm-8pm and provide customers with on-site toilet facilities. A spokesperson for the market also confirmed plans to provide live music were scrapped following consultation with nearby residents.

The team will also be advising visitors not to travel by car and to respect locals in the surrounding area.

While it is understood residents were informed of plans by the Neighbourgood team, several locals explained they only became aware of the market when a note was put through their door by another concerned resident or they visibly saw the work starting.

Sharon Beveridge, 72, and Philip Beveridge, 47, who live on Harbour Place, explained: "I put in a complaint about having it here. There's only one way into the area and there's times we can't get into our home due to the congestion.

"My husband is 85 and I'm in my mid 70s - we actually can't get up and down the road in our car, that's unacceptable. I don't think it should be there. There is no parking here and you literally can't get up or down.

"I can't understand why they want to put it here when there's one way in and out. Yesterday they came down with a big delivery van to lift equipment and we couldn't turn the corner."

Philip added: "I just don't think we need it with what is already there. I understand there is also going to be alcohol on sale and sometimes when the weather is nice we already put up with antisocial behaviour and there's no police presence - it makes life really difficult.

"If the toilets shut and people have been drinking we often find people urinating near our back gate. We were asked to email the council and they received it but we only got 24 hours notice to say it was coming.

"A neighbour also put a note through my door asking if I was aware, we didn't get any official correspondence saying this was coming. I think some people are also on holiday so wouldn't have been able to respond with their concerns."

A resident on Pipe Lane, who wrote a complaint to the council, also highlighted concerns regarding the parking situation. She said: "I think a lot of neighbours have complained and not everyone got a letter. The toilets aren't always open and it'll be used for parking. There have already been vans setting up and parking out there."

Another couple who live on Harbour Place, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "I think where it is going to be is pretty annoying. There are obviously people closer but the thing is we didn't know about it until it arrived.

"We don't know whether it will be a noise problem and only saw it when it started getting built. I know there were thoughts on the licensing aspect and how that was approved for alcohol as no other businesses apart from pubs have an alcohol licence near the beach.

"Normally we should know about these things but we didn't, so I suppose that's the main thing. Obviously people dispersing is a concern. Even if it shuts at 8pm it could be a problem and traffic here is already bad. On Bridge street it's two way into a cul-de-sac so that's another potential issue to highlight."

Stuart Livingstone, another resident on Harbour Place, has been left furious about the decision for the licence to be granted and claims residents' concerns were not heard by the council before the decision was made.

He said: "Parking is already stretched as Marlborough Street and Regent Street now have restricted parking, forcing residents to park on Bridge Street, Figgate Lane and Pipe Lane yet the council deem it appropriate to grant a licence to encourage more people to the area? Absolutely outrageous.

"On any given sunny weekend or evening parking is horrendous. Cars badly parked on the corner of Bridge Street where the new flats are, Cars abandoned on corners and over driveways blocking access.

"The streets and alleyways are already used as toilets from people using the beach on a frequent basis.

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"Yet again the council don't look at this from a residential point of view even though many have objected to this market. They just grant a licence as they don't care as its not on their doorstep.

"Residents have a hard enough time without a market being forced on us."

A spokesperson for the Neighbourgood market told Edinburgh Live members of the team knocked on doors nearby to inform residents of their plans to open a temporary market. They also decided to scale back plans to provide live music similar to the Stockbridge site following concerns within the community.

The market's trading hours will be from 12pm-8pm and toilets will be provided on site. Organisers will also be encouraging people through social media to use public transport to visit the market as well as highlighting nearby transport links.

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A spokesperson for Edinburgh Council said: “Temporary licences were granted for the food and drink market following a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee in June. The Committee granted the licences for a short period, and it was delegated to officers to grant the remaining licences once the venue was in operation, provided there were no problems.

“The Licensing Board has similarly granted occasional licenses for the sale of alcohol using the same approach. If residents have any issues, they can contact the Licensing Standards team.”