When Leith Dock Commission started reclaiming land during the war those of us living on the eastern edge of the village had a huge area where we could play in what we called the “Eckie” (Extension) by the time it finished. So we saw the makings of a greater Newhaven rising from the sea before our eyes.

The only time I can remember a boundary mattering to us was when we went marauding into Leith to steal wood for our bonfires to celebrate the end of the war. However they began to matter for real after the introduction of Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, and Community Councils (CCs) were established as a statutory tier of local democracy.

Their purpose, as defined by the Act, is ‘to ascertain, co-ordinate and express to the local authorities for its area and to public authorities the views of the community which it represents...’

This legislation was enacted more than 50 years ago by a UK Conservative Government that Scotland never voted for. It was designed to give power to as many Tory councils as could be gerrymandered into existence by the prevailing Conservative government.

Community Councils were set up as an attempt to promote public engagement with the new councils on a voluntary basis. Generally you can recruit well motivated volunteers trying to do the best for the community they live in, so Community Councils came into existence and are still functioning after a fashion thanks to the commitment of a variety of committed volunteers. But they never have had executive power.

How effective they are, depends on their relationship with the various Council committees and statutory authorities. What has emerged in Edinburgh over the years is a mixter-maxter of Community Councils. While some on the list are readily recognisable well established locations as former villages engulfed by Edinburgh’s expansion such as Colinton and Newhaven, others seem to have been defined by drawing a line on the map, e.g. West Pilton and West Granton.

There is the possibility of establishing 47 of them in Edinburgh and the scheme was confirmed as operating by the council after review in September last year despite their fundamental flaws, the most basic being the lack of definition of what should comprise a community council and their lack of executive power to get things done.

To make things happen, Community Councils have to rely on the interest and advocacy of whatever local councillor (if any) attends the meetings. Over the years it seems that, at best, they provide a one-way street from councils and statutory authorities to be able to tick the box of consulting with the public on proposals coming their way.

From Newhaven’s perspective they have been ineffectual in achieving much needed improvements in the village. Despite it being the City’s front door to cruise and other sea-borne visitors it has been consistently deprived of investment to maintain the fabric and appearance of the village to the extent that it has been described in one travel website as ‘looking like a second rate housing scheme’ though the residents have been working hard over many years to improve the environment. Certainly, substantial investment seems to be occurring in adjacent council areas to the east and west of the village.

Nor is it properly keeping the residents in the loop regarding developments that matter and are imminent. One of the local councillors who sits on the traffic committee was not informed in advance of a three year through traffic closure of and to a key artery into the village. Communication failures seem to be endemic between council officers and departments and us, the people, have failed. We have to improve matters.

As of 25th March 2025 the council divided the Council representation of the area into two parts in adjacent community councils without speaking to the people. To us it makes no sense and we oppose it.

There is hope.

Recently the council produced a booklet called Edinburgh, the Learning City. The advice it gives and the approach it takes is very much coming from and based in the people themselves. We think that this is the right way to go. We are developing an activist approach in which committed people see what the community needs and are prepared to lead efforts to meet them.

We are setting up the ‘Newhaven Action Group’ as a specific committee of Newhaven Heritage. It has the simple remit of “making Newhaven a better place to live” and be led by the residents themselves.

We are happy to discuss with anyone how to set it up and make it work to create a better Newhaven and City.

Facebook: NewhavenHeritageCentre

Flickr: Phil Gyford