Forthquarter Park open as usual while environmental officers carry out tests at old gasworks site
Investigaations into contamination on the former Granton gasworks site are underway after local residents raised concerns over an unusual number of pet dog deaths following visits to Forthquarter Park. Environmental health officers are working with National Grid, the owners of the park, to investigate the reports but the park remains open while the tests are ongoing.
Local Facebook pages report as many as six local dogs have had to be put down following visits to the park this year.
Local resident June Hoy’s pet was one. “I was prescribed some antibiotics for him but they didn’t help. Two days later on Hogmanay he was back at the vet and scans showed he was bleeding internally. I was gutted when I realised he would have to be put to sleep – There was nothing the vet could do as the bleeding was so bad.”
A member of social media group Friends of West Pilton said: “Something has gone wrong if these dogs who were fit and healthy beforehand all died such horrible deaths. If there is anything suspect in the park then action needs to be taken and people need to be aware of the potential danger they are putting their dog in.”
A spokeswoman for the National Grid, which owns the park, said: “National Grid is working with Edinburgh Council environmental health officials to try to establish the cause of recent dog deaths which are being linked with Forthquarter Park.”
The spokeswoman said the City of Edinburgh Council’s environmental health team’s advice was that there was no need to close the park.
A city council spokeswoman confirmed: “Our Environmental Health team are currently looking into the matter”.
Ben Macpherson, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “I am very concerned by the recent news about the death of several dogs in Pilton and around the area. People should be able to enjoy walking their dogs without any concerns as to their safety.
“The City of Edinburgh Council’s environmental health officers are investigating this issue – I am in communication with the council and they are going to keep me updated. To ensure that the community feels safe, it is important that we fully understand what has happened. This will allow us to help put in place robust preventative measures.”
It’s understood local vets have not seen a rise in unusual conditions or a spike in the number of dogs being treated at surgeries over recent weeks.
The Friends of West Pilton site said: “Please be assured that Friends of West Pilton and TRIM are relentlessly following up on the concerns raised by our residents and we will let you know what is happening as soon as we know. It’s still unclear if the park caused the death of many dogs. As always we will post more information as we have it.”
A post made last night adds: “Firstly can we say a public thank you to June and John who this week have spoken to the local and national media after the death of their pets.
We ( TRIM and FoWP) will support them all the way and we are in talks with them and many other owners too. Until such time we have answers from Edinburgh Council we strongly advise you to avoid the park.”
Happier days at Forthquarter Park
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