Save Leith Walk has submitted 15,850 objections to Drum Property’s
plan to demolish 106-154 Leith Walk, to destroy the independent
businesses using the building and to build an over-tall and
dominating student residence in its place. All these objections
were gathered voluntarily and everyone given an opportunity to make
their own personal views clear.
On Tuesday 2nd October, Drum Property announced that their paid Public
Relations Company had collected 2,000 signatures in support of the
demolition and new development. Amongst these are millionaire
commercial property financiers, their families and others who stand to
gain financially if this development goes ahead as well as the made up
names like Leith Depot staff and several Mr Owner/Occupiers.
However amongst the signatures are some ordinary people who live in
Leith and many who are students currently studying at Edinburgh
University. Our campaigners have met a few of those during the weeks
we spent in the streets patiently explaining what was being proposed.
In fact, we met so few who had signed Drum’s pro forma letters that
the numbers seem artificially inflated.
We suspect many had thought they were signing up to support new jobs
or more affordable homes being developed in the Leith area. Others
possibly thought they were supporting the development of much needed
student accommodation for those currently without a place to stay.
None of these claims are true.
Save Leith Walk
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