Hope yet for Canonmills campaigners

‘It ain’t over ’til the big ball swings!’ – Save 1 – 6 Canonmills Bridge campaigner Gemma Kicks

Canonmills campaigners achieved a partial victory yesterday when councillors from across the political spectrum called for a full public hearing to take place to discuss controversial plans to demolish buildings on Canonmills Bridge –  a conservation area.

The hearing will take place on 26 August.

Campaigners will use the stay of execution to gather more support in the fight to stop the demolition. A spokesperson said: “Two key reasons for the agreement to the hearing was the positioning of the site which sits on the border of two council wards (wards 5 & 11) and two community council areas. It was therefore felt appropriate that councillors from these areas should be given a chance to share their opinions. The second reason being the vast amount of representations.”

The Save Canonmills Bridge campaign has attracted considerable public support since it was launched six weeks ago. Campaigners have gathered over 1600 signatures during weekend information stalls on the bridge at the weekends, a Facebook campaign has attracted 1228 followers and nearly 4000 people have added their support through an online petition.

The petition was presented to the committee yesterday.

In a statement, the campaign team said: “We have encountered unified support from across the local community (people of all ages and political perspectives), also from regular and occasional visitors to the area.

“We can’t overstate how much the area around Canonmills Bridge junction means to locals, pedestrians on their way to work or the Botanics, and to those frequenting the Water of Leith. We have been heartened by the repeat visits for progress updates and in encouragement to our stall.”

Campaigners shall now be gathering to agree their next moves, but it seems certain that the group will step up the campaign to ensure wider awareness of the development being proposed and to gather wider public support.

As local resident Gemma Kicks said: “It ain’t over til the big ball swings!”