EDINBURGH AT RISK

Return of the 'Brown Envelopes'

07-02-2008 These are the people to blame

SAY NO TO CALTONGATE
PROTEST
WEDNESDAY 6TH FEB
OUTSIDE CITY CHAMBERS,
HIGH ST, THE ROYAL MILE
From 9am

further details from http://www.eh8.org.uk

Come along and make the Planning Committee and others see that Caltongate is so wrong for Edinburghs` Old Town, and that they should not be voting to approve this inappropriate development.

What is needed is lots of people. As many at 9am as possible. We aim to have a presence all day until committee ends. Which will be until after 4pm. Come whenever you can, come and go throughout the day.

Bring along placards and banners, musical instruments, whistles etc. Be prepared for the weather, bring flasks of hot drinks, snacks and even a portable seat if you need to.

People have been making banners to hang outside buildings in and around the Canongate. They have also made placards for Wednesday, but if you can, bring your own.

Do make your own banners/posters to put on or outside your windows from today. A clear message can then be seen all over the city, you don`t have to live in The Old Town. Its everyones Old Town and World Heritage Site.

You can print off a poster for your window from these PDF files .

Caltongate landscape poster
Caltongate Portrait poster

September 13th 2007

Orocco Pier Hotel developer shows utter contempt
for locals, the community at South Queensferry and the Ombudsman

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orocco_planning_appeal

This morning the Orocco Pier Hotel sent a caterpillar drilling rig and a JCB down our lane and onto the beach to prepare to destroy it. There was NO CONSULTATION despite management promises. The lane was partially blocked overnight without proper traffic regulatory approval and the ancient slipway is under severe threat from heavy vehicles which are now using it. The JCB digger has begun crashing its buckets down on the stones on our sandy beach, trying to excavate the old ruins underneath. The whole site, used by families and children every day, is unsecured and represents a serious health and safety risk. Workers refused to listen to our complaints and carried on regardless. The hotel said they would pass on our concerns to the owner.

The developer should have fulfilled a lengthy list of conditions before starting development which has not been met: archaeological surveys, traffic and parking plans, consultation with neighbours and many more have yet to be satisfactorily completed with the involvement of the local community. Despite repeated assurances from the management of the Orocco Pier, there has been no consultation with the local community to work out how this development should proceed with the minimum of disruption.

Perhaps worst of all, the Ombudsman is soon to report on the council's decision and it is the height of contempt for due process to send in diggers while the complaints procedure is still underway.

An emergency meeting is being held at the Stag Hotel this evening (13th September 2007) at 8.00pm.

Thursday August 23rd 2007 Edinburgh City Chambers

Representatives of the campaign groups that constitute Edinburgh At Risk (EAR) will assemble at the City Chambers at 0930 Thursday 23^rd August to lobby councillors who will be discussing many important issues which will affect the city and her people for generations to come. All supporters are urged to attend.

Tuesday 21 August 2007

NEWS RELEASE: Campaign groups join together to lobby councillors

Councillors will be met by many campaign groups when they arrive for an important meeting in the capital on Thursday.

Edinburgh At Risk (EAR) is an umbrella organisation of campaign groups, each of which is sending representatives to the City Chambers to lobby councillors as they enter the building.

"The meeting is due to cover many important issues that will affect the city and its people for generations to come," said EAR spokesman Kevin Ferguson.

"These include the future of Meadowbank Stadium, Glenogle Swimming Pool, The North Edinburgh Arts Centre, The Ark on New Street plus proposed closures of schools, nurseries and community centres."

Councillors will also discuss a motion that 'notes the serious concerns raised by land expert, Andy Wightman' at a public lecture organised by EAR in June when Wightman was highly critical of how the Council has dealt with its Common Good Fund, which includes the likes of the Meadows, Brunstfield Links, Leith Links, Princes Street Gardens, Calton Hill and Waverley Market.

"The Council's cavalier and dismissive attitude to the opposition expressed by many Edinburgh communities is not acceptable," Ferguson continued. "EAR represents many local campaigns around the city. Our presence should also act as a reminder to the new administration that the lack of judgement exhibited by the previous council resulted in the electorate voting for near wholesale change."

EAR calls upon the new Lib Dem / SNP coalition to honour their coalition statement, in which they commit to assure "communities are fully involved in decisions which affect them and [that] local democracy is enlarged".

EAR also urges the council to follow the example of The Scottish Executive's National Policy Initiative which states: "Community Planning Partnerships aim to make sure that people and communities are genuinely engaged in the decisions made on public services which affect them."

ends.

Notes for editors

1. Edinburgh At Risk is a non-political umbrella organisation founded by a number of on-going campaigns. The issue that unites all these groups is their concern at the many present and planned sales of public land and facilities. Campaigns include:

Save Our Old Town http://www.eh8.org.uk
Save Glenogle Baths http://www.saveglenoglebaths.com
Save Meadowbank http://www.savemeadowbank.org
Sighthill Says No
Portobello Park Action Group http://www.portygreenkeepers.org.uk
Gardyloo http://www.gardyloo.org
Friends of Corstorphine Hill http://www.corstorphinehill.ukf.net

A video showing many of the campaigns can be viewed at
http://www.youtube.com/v/miko9rcRhX4.

2. Further information on Edinburgh's Common Good Fund at

http://eh8.org.uk/common_good_0

3. City of Edinburgh full council meeting:

http://cpol.edinburgh.gov.uk/getdoc_ext.asp?DocId=100371

12th June 2007

Announcing an important lecture by Andy Wightman entitled:

"Community Ownership of Land in Edinburgh
The Story of the Common Good Fund"

Time: 7.30 on Wednesday 27th June

Place: St Stephens Centre, St Stephens Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5AL

Numbers are limited so if you would like to attend please email EAR to secure a seat.

Andy Wightman is a writer and researcher on land issues in Scotland. He specialises in research and analysis of landownership and land reform in Scotland.

7th May 2007 Initial responses to EAR's questionaire

EAR asked six questions to candidates standing for election to the City of Edinburgh Council: to date there have been few replies. A charitable observer might blame the workload for a candidate at election time. A cynic might say that the questions below are too specfic and too hard to for a politician to answer. How about it SNP, Scottish Labour, UKIP,SACL - have you nothing to say on these issues?

Maybe they think that Edinburgh voters are too stupid to notice any failure to provide clear answers, or can we just expect a cosy agreement to continue the status quo after May 3rd?

Tell Edinburgh At Risk where YOU stand on the following?

EAR's SIX QUESTIONS
1. Do you intend to continue to sell off council (public) assets?	2. What minimum percentage of 'affordable' housing should be applied to all new developments?
3. If elected how would you ensure resident and local business participation at an early stage in planning applications?	4. Will you vote to preserve and expand publicly owned green spaces and leisure facilities in the city?
5. What is your motivation to represent your ward?	6. As a councillor, what would be your responsibilities with regard to Edinburgh's Common Good?

ANSWERS: We have received the following answers at 1800 on Thursday 3rd May
they are listed in order of receipt

Gavin Corbett
Green
City Centre

1. In our local manifesto, we have called for a halt to the sell off of sports and leisure facilities and playing fields. For example, one of our candidates, Alison Johnstone, a former international runner, has been active in the campaign to halt the sell off of Meadowbank and the previous asset-stripping at Meggetland.

2. We are committed to enforcing the 25% quota on affordable housing. The key issue here is making developers adhere to it. For example, in written questions to the Council, Green candidates showed that of 4,500 planning consents for affordable housing through the policy, only 200 had actually been built. See http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=118842007. I have also written a paper for SOOT, criticizing the commitment to affordable homes in the Caltongate development.

3. In our local manifesto we have called for Edinburgh to sign up to and comply with the national standards for community engagement, which go well beyond the token consultation many businesses and communities experience. We have also campaigned for third party right of appeal in the planning system.

4. We want to expand community-run green space through our “Green Space Fund”. We also support community sports facilities.

5. I wish to be a councillor for this area for 2 reasons:

- Because I have lived and worked around the centre of Edinburgh for 16 years and I am passionate about maintaining and improving this unique place we have. One of the key features of the city centre is that it is so “lived-in” so I believe in more effective work with the very diverse community here.

- Because I believe that Edinburgh has all the potential to be a world-leader in tackling climate change and that 4 or 5 new Green councillors can do much more to drive that forward than 1 or 2 extra councillors from the established parties.

6. In our local manifesto we have pledged to ensure that Edinburgh establishes a proper inventory of Common Good assets and systems for dealing transparently with valuation. This is something we have looked at extensively and we are clear that the current city council has failed to act in its role as stewards of Common Good assets.

James Mackenzie
Green
Sighthill / Gorgie

Gavin Corbett forwarded me your list of questions. I support all his other answers wholeheartedly, and the personal one is below:

5. I wish to be a councillor for this area because I want to see Edinburgh Council run transparently and effectively, with social justice, sustainable jobs and the environment as the city's top priorities.

Gary John Peacock
Liberal Democrat
Craigentinny/Duddingston

1. No we do not intend to sell off council assets as a rule, although of course there may be exceptional cases.

2. We are committed to looking into increasing the percentage of affordable housing in new developments from 25% for developments of 12 or more houses to 50%.

3. Major planning applications would be brought up as items on the agenda at Neighbourhood Partnerships. This would make it easier for local people to access plans and discuss them.

4. In general terms, I would vote to preserve and expand if possible green spaces in the city. In terms of leisure facilities, I wish to ensure that Meadowbank Stadium is not lost to the city and I would not vote for any new facilities which would mean that Meadowbank was lost to the people of east Edinburgh.

5. It is the finest and most varied ward in the city, with Arthur's Seat, Seafield, Meadowbank, Duddingston and Restalrig. I live in East Edinburgh and would be honoured to work for the residents of the ward to improve their quality of life and ensure they have the very best services and representation.

6. I am not entirely sure about this at present. I would imagine it would be to administer and preserve it imapartially.

Fred Marinello
Independent
Forth

1. Definitely not.

2. A very minimum of 20%.

3. By using the existing community council structure and inviting all interested parties round the table for no nonsense discussions.

4. We must not continue building without due consideration and implementation of, by law if necessary green space/parks for the citizens of Edinburgh to enjoy. We cannot continue with this crazy policy of build, build,build until all we have is a concrete jungle.

5. My motivation is simple. I have lived in the Greater Pilton now Forth Ward for over 25 years and am disgusted with the way it has been overdeveloped in some parts[Waterfront Development] and left to deteriorate in others.

6. To make absolutely sure that the citizens i hope to represent take the decisions and are not the victims of decisions taken for them. Common good must originate with the people who know best,that is the people who live in the communities of this city. There is a lot of expertise in these communities and to patronise them,is to do them down. Those elected to serve must make sure the people they are elected to represent are not bit part players in a party machines wafer thin policies, which end up in many communities ill at ease with themselves.

Charles Kennedy
Green
Corstorphine / Murrayfield

Gavin Corbett has set out some of our policy commitments which are relevant to your questions (such as enforcing the 25% quota for affordable housing and making a proper inventory of Common Good assets). I won't repeat what he has said for questions 1 to 4 and 6, but I fully endorse all of it. In addition would make the following points.

Questions 1 and 4: In relation to retaining local public assets, we are particularly keen on this because our ambition to tackle climate change will require us to make sure facilities are as close to people as practical, in order that they don't need to travel so far - and we know that once sold these local assets are rarely replaced, whether they be green spaces or public buildings.

Question 5: My reasons for wanting to be a councillor are:

- to influence development in the city in a way that takes tackling climate change seriously, a significant part of which involves reducing the need to travel and making transport options as environmentally friendly as possible, and another part of which involves reducing household energy use and sourcing household energy from renewable sources

- to develop means of pursuing other environmental goals such as waste reduction and protection of wildlife habitat

- to push the city to develop in ways which improve and enhance life for its residents, rather than have the development driven by a property development agenda

Brian Ferrier
Independent
City Centre

I agree with ALL the things you ask except that if a developer is allowed to build 6 half million pound houses then somewhere else in the City (could be miles away) they should be building some affordable houses too. It should not have to be rolled up into the same project. Trade one for the other. Be real about the commercial aspects.

Thank you for asking me. Nobody else is interested.

Good points too. Every one of them.

John Wight
on behalf of Solidarity - Tommy Sheridan
Liberton/Gilmerton

1. Absolutely not. On the contrary, we call for the ending of right to buy on all existing council housing stock. We support Shelter's call for 30,000 council houses to be built in Scotland in the next three years, and we also call for all existing historical housing debt to be written off, both locally and nationally, and for it to be made a statutory requirement that the millions released as a result be used to plan and build new council houses.

2. On this, I would refer you to our previous answer vis-a-vis ensuring that every local authority is obligated to use the money released as a result of writing off their housing debt to build new council houses. Affordable housing in the context you use it could also be applied to that supplied by private housing associations. We are against private housing associations on principle. They are unelected and therefore unaccountable to their tenants and to the community. This leaves tenants vulnerable. In terms of the private rental market, we want to see rent control implemented in Edinburgh, where currently rents are exorbitant.

3. By pushing to make their participation a statutory requirement. There are currently two or three regeneration schemes underway in Edinburgh. In each there has been no meaningful consultation with local residents or local businesses. What there has been instead is an Edinburgh City Council which has clearly turned its back on the people who elected them and instead turned to the property developers and big business. This is unacceptable and we are proud to be involved in local and city campaigns like Save Meadowbank, which are resisting such developments.

4. Absolutely.

5. As someone who was born and bred in Edinburgh, I have grown increasingly angry at the fact that we now have two Edinburghs. We have the Edinburgh of the million pound homes, designer shops and upmarket hotels, and we have the Edinburgh of ever increasing social decay, poverty, inequality and its symptoms of crime, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic violence, and mental illness. The average price of a home in Edinburgh today is £204,000 and we have a council determined to sell off what little housing stock is left to service the needs of working class people and their families. I am angry at this, in fact I am outraged, and I intend to take that anger into the City Chambers, if elected, and ensure that the voice of the people is heard.

6. To ensure that it is preserved for the good of all of Edinburgh's citizens, and that it is passed on to future generations intact.

Barbara Scott
Regional List Candidate for the Lothians - Scottish Socialist Party
SSP Candidate for Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart
on behalf of all Scottish Socialist Party candidates

1. We don't agree with selling off the council's assets as these actually belong to the people of Edinburgh and the council has no right to sell them. The selling off of common good land must be resisted at all costs. The council is selling off resources and land that doesn't belong to it but belongs to the people of Edinburgh. The SSP was 100% against the stock transfer of council housing and was very active in EAST (Edinburgh Against Stock Transfer). We support a house building programme of 100,000 council houses throughout Scotland. And should we not be successful in getting such a bill through in the Parliament we fully support Shelter's campaign for 30,000 homes by 2012.

2. The SSP also would like to see, in addition to our pledge to build 100,000 council houses, that for every three houses built by the private sector, one "affordable" house should be built for sale or for rent. The SSP would like to have a public discussion on the understanding of "affordable". However without a massive house building programme for homes to rent at a price people can afford 25% of houses being built by the private sector will not address the housing problem.

3. The SSP states clearly in it's manifesto that we stand for more powers to community councils where by statute they must be consulted and listened to. The planning process cannot just be about meaningless consultations but about thorough participation. Checks and balances are needed in order to ensure that residents and local businesses are being listened to before big business. The SSP has supported campaigns involving the planning process particularly against the Caltongate project. Colin Fox MSP has attended planning meetings and the SSP has done all it can to highlight the scandalous planning situation the Save Our Old Town campaign (SOOT) is dealing with. We also would want to look at the "masterplan" part of planning for big developments as many people are tricked into believing that when a master plan is agreed then the planning applications are agreed. The SSP has supported campaigns such as Save Portobello Park, Stop the Supermarket (in Portobello), Save Meadowbank as well as SOOT etc however such campaigns exist due to the lack of consultation and due to communities not being listened to.

4. Yes SSP councillors will vote for any such measure.

5. The SSP is standing a candidate in every ward - as candidates we stand to promote the ideas of socialism, community and collectivism. The SSP agreed to stand in every ward as there is not a part of Edinburgh that is not being sold off, being over developed, and where the people who live there are not being listened to. The SSP candidates want to be councillors who represent their community not the developers, big business and "the council". Standing in every ward means the SSP is able to listen to all the concerns the communities have been able to raise and throughout Edinburgh the concerns are similar. The SSP will continue to campaign in the communities after the elections too.

6. The common good land and buildings must be kept in the common good. The SSP would.

Gordon Buchan
Scottish Conservative
Fountainbridge / Craiglockhart

1. Do you intend to continue to sell off council (public) assets?

As residents will be aware, I opposed the sale of Meggetland and Grove Street Park - actions are louder than words. My election address states that I am opposed to the sale of parks for private development.

2. What minimum percentage of 'affordable' housing should be applied to all new developments?

I believe that a fixed percentage across the city is not too helpful. A quota should be set depending upon the scale, location and type of development proposed, with minimum and maximum limits.

3. If elected how would you ensure resident and local business participation at an early stage in planning applications?

I already let residents know of any major developments in the ward, so that they can have their say, for example the Landrover redevelopment at Slateford and the Grove Street student development.

4. Will you vote to preserve and expand publicly owned green spaces and leisure facilities in the city?

I have already called for the protection of green space in our city, something that Labour have continually sold.

5. What is your motivation to represent your ward?

I am one of the few in Fountainbridge / Craiglockhart ward election that actually lives in the ward, therefore the issues that affect residents, also impact upon me and my family. Its time to make Edinburgh work better. I hope to have an opportunity to do just that tomorrow.

6. As a councillor, what would be your responsibilities with regard to Edinburgh's Common Good? We need to identify exactly what falls within the portfolio first and be aware of our responsibilities.

Stephen Hawkins
Liberal Democrat Candidate
for Portobello/Craigmillar

1. Do you intend to continue to sell off council (public) assets?

The only public assets to be sold are those that are clearly identified after public consultation to be surplus to need at the present and for the foreseeable future. This should not include green space simply to provide a capital receipt.

2. What minimum percentage of 'affordable' housing should be applied to all new developments?

A figure of 50% should be applied until the present crisis in the provision of affordable housing has been eliminated. This figure should then be reviewed in order to assist in creating sustainable communities and prevent a similar crisis arising. More importantly this condition should be enforced on the developer.

3. If elected how would you ensure resident and local business participation at an early stage in planning applications?

By encouraging greater participation in masterplans and local plans through the Neighbourhood Partnerships. Community Councils also need more funding to train people with the skills to fulfil their duties under the new planning regime.

4. Will you vote to preserve and expand publicly owned green spaces and leisure facilities in the city?

As a supporter of Portobello Park Action Group I support the retention of green space within and around the city. These and associated leisure facilities should be readily accessible to all throughout the city and new spaces created through planning approvals for new developments and council initiatives.

5. What is your motivation to represent this ward?

My motivation stems from the practical example of being able to change what was to happen to Portobello through my involvement of the Portobello Campaign Against The Superstore. Since then I have become a Community Councillor and participated in many community initiatives and I have found this rewarding in the feeling of contributing to the well being of all.

6. As a councillor, what would be your responsibilities with regard to Edinburgh's Common Good?

I would regard myself as a Trustee of Common Good Assets for the people's benefit rather than a land bank to be raided to provide money to pay for basic services.

26th April 2007 Meadowbank Sale 'ON HOLD'

Outgoing Labout Councillors listen to Save Meadowbank

Outgoing Edinburgh Labour Councillors listen to the Save Meadowbank Campaigners at Edinburgh City Chambers. They later decided to reconsider their 'sell-off' plan . More news here...

EAR has been founded by a number of on-going campaigns including Gardyloo.org
Save Our Old Town http://www.eh8.org.uk	Save Glenogle Baths http://www.saveglenoglebaths.com
Save Meadowbank http://www.savemeadowbank.org	Sighthill Says No
Portobello Park Action Group http://www.portygreenkeepers.org.uk	Friends of Corstorphine Hill http://www.corstorphinehill.ukf.net
ABOUT EDINBURGH AT RISK EAR supporters include a former government adviser who has criticised the Labour party in Edinburgh for representing the interests of developers instead of their constituents. Sir Bernard Crick, who worked with David Blunkett at the Home Office, is appalled at the way the local council has repeatedly decided to "sell off the family silver" for a quick gain and without proper consideration of the long-term consequences. An honorary fellow at Edinburgh University, Sir Bernard thinks councillors have allowed themselves to get too close to developers. He said: "As a life-long member of the Labour Party and former government adviser on citizenship, I am deeply embarrassed, indeed angry, at how close leading Edinburgh Labour councillors have got to the developers all over the city." "Of course the council is desperate not to have to raise council tax, but the answer cannot be to sell off the family silver. This is irreversible sale, not even a pawnshop." EAR will share advice and information between groups and coordinate demands for a much closer and earlier consultation with residents on proposed developments. EAR is planning a series of initiatives to raise awareness, stimulate debate and highlight democratic abuse. Its first act has been to question all candidates in the forthcoming council elections about their stance on a range of issues including, housing, Common Good, planning and the retention of publicly owned green and leisure spaces.

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