EDINBURGH AT RISK

Monday 30th July 2007

A new support network has been formed by Edinburgh campaign groups with the full support of a former top government adviser who is highly critical of the current Labour administration.

"Edinburgh At Risk (EAR) is a non-political umbrella organisation open to all who value the city's culture, history and future," said spokesperson Kevin Ferguson. "It is concerned at the many present and planned sales of public land and facilities and wishes full recognition of Edinburgh's Common Good."

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
Planning Aid for Scotland have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Faculty of Advocates to provide a new service: http://www.advocates.org.uk/news/news_planningaid.html
South Queensferry Residents campaigning against the granting of planning permission for a hotel extension to be built on a sandy beach in the heart of the medieval town http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orocco_planning_appeal	Save Our Nurseries http://www.saveournurseries.org.uk/

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. The results will be published before polling day.

ends.

Notes for editors:

1. For further information about the Edinburgh At Risk campaign contact Kevin Ferguson (tel: 0774 714 8764) or view the video at http://www.youtube.com/v/miko9rcRhX4.

2. For further information about the individual campaigns contact:
Save Our Old Town - Sally Richardson (0777 855 6210)
Save Glenogle Baths - Linda Wilson (0131 467 4765)
Save Meadowbank - Paula Ferguson (0772 445 2142)
Sighthill Says No - Ronnie Cairns (0131 538 6039)
Portobello Park Action Group - Diana Cairns (0131 669 4981)
Gardyloo - David Liddle (0790 603 5443)
Friends of Corstorphine Hill - Eddie Price (0131 539 1088)
Orocco Appeal (South Queensferry Residents) - Bruce Whitehead (0131 331 4799)

3. Biography of Sir Bernard Crick

Sir Bernard Crick is Emeritus Professor of Birkbeck College, University of London, and has been an Honorary Fellow of the Politics Department at Edinburgh University since coming to live in Edinburgh in 1984.

He began his teaching career as a Teaching Fellow at Harvard, taught at McGill a year before returning to teach at the LSE from 1956 to 1967 and was first professor Politics at Sheffield from 1967 to 1973, thereafter at Birkbeck.

Principle publications are The American Science of Politics, The Reform of Parliament, In Defence of Politics, Orwell: a Life, Essays on Politics and Literature, Political Thoughts and Polemics, (with David Miller) To Make the Scottish Parliament a Model for Democracy, Essays on Citizenship, Democracy: a very short book. Currently working on a book on "The Four Nations".

For many years editor of The Political Quarterly and was joint founder of the Study of Parliament Group, first president of the Politics Association (teachers) in the 1970s and recently of the Association for Citizenship Teaching. A Vice-President of the Political Studies Association and holder of four honorary degrees. In 1997 became chairman of the advisory group whose report The Teaching of Citizenship and Democracy in Schools led to the introduction of Citizenship in the English National Curriculum.
Adviser on Active Citizenship to the Home Office, 2003-04.

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