Dear neighbour,
Short-term lets and student blocks have rapidly spread in Tollcross. Many of us feel the effect on our stairs, bins, shops and rents; others depend on visitors and students for their living, or see no problem at all.
Before Tollcross Community Council takes a position, we want to know what this community actually thinks.
We have written a short draft statement, in the community’s name, setting out what is happening and what we might ask of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government. It is a first draft, and we expect you to change it. We are asking one question:
How much do you agree with this draft Tollcross statement on short-term lets and student accommodation, and how should it be changed?
Responding takes 2–4 minutes and is anonymous, but this is not a typical survey. You will find the draft alongside the question, so you can react to it paragraph by paragraph: what is wrong, what is missing, what is overstated. You can see what your neighbours have said, agree or disagree with their reasons, and revise your view until the question closes.
What you say here matters. We will rewrite the statement from your posts, publish what changed and why, and send the final version to the Edinburgh Council as the expressed view of Tollcross, with a public record showing how it was shaped. Evidence that many residents, students, hosts and businesses have all visibly contributed will make the statement far harder to ignore.
Earlier answers attract more discussion and carry more weight in the final document, so please don’t wait.
If you wish, add your name to be credited among the contributors, and include a link to your business, organisation or personal page to be known by your community. Sharing your name and weblink does not affect the anonymity of your answers.
With thanks,
Richard Allen, Tollcross Community Council
Further background: This is not a complaints form. If a holiday let is causing problems on your stair, please report it to the Council using the links on our website: https://tollcrosscc.org.uk/are-holiday-lets-like-airbnb-causing-problems-on-your-stair/. Responses are gathered and analysed on comCensus, a platform for honest community discussion. Questions? Reply to this email or write to help@comcensus.org.