SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith Ben Macpherson and MP Deidre Brook recently met with the Housing Minister Kevin Stewart to discuss their concerns about the situation in Lorne Street.
The tenants were relieved to learn that the new Housing Minister Kevin Stewart took this matter very seriously and has recently written to the trustees of the Agnes Hunter Trust to raise his concerns about their situation and will soon meet up with the trustees in order to progress this matter in support of the tenants.
The Agnes Hunter Trust recently issued a statement assuring that all tenants would be safe while advising that a sale of the properties to Port of Leith Housing Association in order to secure the future of the tenants fell through.
The Trust is currently negotiating with another Housing Association whose identity has not been disclosed to the tenants, who are nevertheless hoping for a positive outcome: they are desperate for their lives to go back to normal without the fear of eviction constantly lingering in the back of their minds.
Over decades the Miss Agnes Hunter Trust established a reputation as a landlord that provided long-term secure tenancies. “We were promised a tenancy for life”, said one tenant. “Stay as long as you like’, another was told.
The tenants comprise a close-knit community of all ages. One of the older residents has lived there for 74 years, having moved in aged 2 years old. The younger children all attend Lorne Primary School adjacent to most of the tenement blocks.
For the last 12 months the tenants have feared for the future of their homes and Leith community. Lorne Street tenants were told last June they faced eviction after a letter was sent by the Miss Agnes Hunter Trust, informing them that “retention of the property portfolio was no longer in the interest of the trust”. Facing homelessness, tenants had no option but to organise themselves to save their close-knit community.
A petition was presented by the Lorne Community Association to the Council’s Petition’s Committee in November where the trustees of the Agnes Hunter Trust agreed to work together with the Council and the tenants to find a solution to save the Lorne Street community.
Miss Agnes Hunter’s father Samuel Hunter built these houses in the 1870’s and since then they have been let by the Hunter family. The community is rooted in the history of the Hunter family and the Miss Agnes Hunter Trust and the succession of trustees who have fostered it and allowed it to grow for decades.
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SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith Ben Macpherson has selected Lorne Community Association’s Secretary Melanie Weigang as his Local Hero to take part in the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Session of the Scottish Parliament today.
Ben Macpherson said: “Being asked to select a Local Hero from Edinburgh Northern and Leith was, I’m happy to say, an incredibly challenging task. There are so many outstanding local groups and individuals doing remarkable work for our community. But Melanie and the LCA stood out.
“Melanie has worked tirelessly to resist the proposed evictions in Lorne Street, facing herself and her neighbours. It is brilliant to be given the chance to celebrate and appreciate her efforts and commitment to her community.
Melanie said: “I am absolutely delighted that Ben has nominated me to be his Local Hero on behalf of the Lorne Community Association. This is a great acknowledgement of all our hard work to save our community.”
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