The Royal

[bellybabe]

Noticed F.E.Macdonalds have the contract and are working on the Royal. People ask me what's happening with it and I have no idea why they think I'd know, so can anyone tell me?! I know there've long been plans to turn it into flats, once rejected because of the already significant parking problems on Bath Street, but we know these days such petty considerations are beneath the planners' noble housing ideals, especially when it comes to Bath Street <grin>... Will it be more fancy flats, or can we look forward to a return to the much-missed days of sunny afternoon barbecues accompanied by the wonderful soundtrack of the karaoke...?! The top of Bath Street is becoming almost respectable again!!! (No offence intended to our good neighbours...)

[Guest]

Application granted in January 2003 for:

"Conversion of hotel to form seven residential flats including internal alterations, formation of new entrance and windows on gable and new internal stair (as amended)"

This information is from the new planning portal, which anyone can access at www.edinburgh.gov.uk\planning

Agree, Bath Street is on the up. I think containerisation has made a big difference and I don't think many will mourn the passing of the Royal in its latter days. Hopefully, someone will get on with replacing the Suite Factory before long and the last couple of shops at the foot of Bath Street will be converted to ground floor flats. I believe that work on the villa half way down is scheduled to start in the Spring. Think I heard that Portobello CAB is considering one of the vacant shop premises at the top? The new Chinese restaurant looks pretty classy and that just leaves the 'monstrous carbuncle', which has a life of its own elsewhere on this board.

[Epykat]

I'm all for the Royal Hotel being put to better (and prettier) use. However, this is supposing that the flats are let/sold to decent occupiers and not given over the private landlords who fill them with not quite so law abiding clients as has happened in other parts of Portobello. There seems to be no control over the kind of people who are put into these properties and I know of a few instances (myself included) where your nice neighbours are suddenly replaced by people you'd rather not know!

[Surrealist]

[Epykat]

[Surrealist]

[Guest]

[Surrealist]

[Epykat]

[Guest]

[Surrealist]

[bellybabe]

[Epykat]

[Kirstielove]

When I moved into my building all the flats were owned by private landlords. The stair was kept clean, free of rubbish, noise levels were low, the entry system worked. Since the flats have been sold off and are now owner/occupier the stair is dirty and smells of urine, rubbish bags are left on the landings, the main door has been kicked in umpteen times, the entry system has been vandalised.

I, too, want to live where I don't fall over people lying on the stair or have to tip toe through pools of vomit or trip over rubbish bags or have dog sh*t shoved through my door because I've asked people to have more consideration towards their fellow neighbours.

I don't think it's fair to blame private landlords for anti social behaviour or drug dealers lurking in doorways!

Kirstie

[Surrealist]