Bonnington Bridge Bar builders dumping in Water of Leith again

In August last year, the owners of the Bonnington Bridge Bar got in trouble with the law after getting caught on camera dumping their waste in the Water of Leith. You can read about that here.

Well it turns out they didn't learn their lesson. Rather than figuring out a way to dump their waste in a legal way, they just decided to try and hide their dumping under the road bridge. How do we know? Well these photos sent to us last week by an anonymous, male, eyewitness, prove it. 

In addition to the fact that the owners have continued to allow dumping of waste in the river, it looks as though the extent of the modifications they've made to the bank on the river may go someway beyond what they originally applied to build. 

You can see the plan of what they got permission to build in the image below.

You can see from the plan that the developers indicated that the "indigenous vegetation" would be left between the terrace and the river. Sadly, it would seem that this has mostly been obliterated, and a whole, secondary retaining wall has been built closer to the river. This retaining wall doesn't feature in the plan above at all.  

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. It's truly depressing that private developers such as these guys are so happy to dump stuff in the Water of Leith, when literally thousands of volunteer hours are donated by Edinburgh residents, to keep it clean, tidy and good for wildlife.

Time for another visit from the Environmental Wardens? Not that that prospect will likely bother owner Norrie Rowan, who is apparently no stranger to run ins with the authorities. 

He got into trouble with the Health and Safety Executive over the way this site was managed last August, and was quoted in the Evening News about the same time saying: 

"I'd build things, then ask for planning permission. I once had T-shirts printed with "Ask For Forgiveness, Not For Consent" and I sent one to the then assistant head of building control at the council. He told me he'd wear it on his holidays." 

So that's good then.

We have reported this issue to the authorities via Fix My Street. You can see other local issues that people have reported recently on this page here. 

Comments

[Michael Traill]

I hope someone has let the wardens in the local neighbourhood team know.

Leith is part of the City Centre & Leith Neighbourhood Team, the wardens are based in the Cockburn Street office.

citycentreteam@edinburgh.gov.uk or 529 7061

(or report via the SfC call centre line on 529 3030)

[Jim Darroch]

They have built what now looks like a jetty on the river bank, thus using space that does not belong to them. Last time I went past there was rubbish lying in the water, obviously dumped from the pub. Should've taken a pic.