Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has welcomed the ‘fantastic news’ that The City of Edinburgh Council will receive a share of £230 million from the Scottish Government to rebuild Queensferry High School. Continue reading Keir welcomes funding for High School rebuild
‘I am humbled by the generosity and humanity of the local community in reaching out to help those in need.’ – Colin Keir MSP
Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir joined volunteers at the Muirhouse Community Shop yesterday to help collect and sort donations of clothing for Syrian refugees.
Mr Keir said: “I was overwhelmed by the support for this initiative from the local community in Muirhouse. It shows that Muirhouse cares for the plight of Syrian refugees and as winter approaches these donations will be much appreciated by those in need.
“This is a great partnership between the local community, its community organisations and Edinburgh Direct Aid to provide some comfort to those refugees now living in very difficult conditions in refugee camps. Once again I am humbled by the generosity and humanity of the local community in reaching out to help those in need.”
The initiative was organised by Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM), Muirhouse Community Shop, Pilton Youth & Children Project and Spartans. The donations were sorted by the volunteers before delivery to Edinburgh Direct Aid.
‘ a real diamond route’ – Colin Keir MSP
Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western has welcomed the announcement by Delta Airlines/Virgin that their joint venture will launch a new Edinburgh to New York service from May 2016.
Mr Keir said: “All new routes from Edinburgh are welcome as they boost employment and tourism opportunities, something that is vital to the Edinburgh and wider Scottish economy.
“With direct flights to New York, Edinburgh will link with the most influential global financial centre. Add to this the tourism potential and it makes this a real diamond route.
“Well done to Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar and his team for securing this route and to Delta and Virgin for identifying Edinburgh as a positive destination.”
Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has reacted furiously to yesterday’s decision by councillors to approve a new local development plan, and said the fight to save green belt land at Cammo and Maybury will go on.
A meeting of the city council’s Planning Committee approved the latest Proposed Local Development Plan yesterday but the local MSP feels the legitimate fears of local people have been ignored.
Mr Kerr said: “I am deeply disappointed with the outcome of the meeting today. There were a huge number of objections made on good planning grounds to the release of Greenbelt land at Maybury and Cammo from local residents. These objections have been ignored and the sites remain in the plan.
“There were alternatives to the course of action taken by the Capital Coalition councillors today but quite simply they did not have the gumption or backbone to make the right decision for the communities of Western Edinburgh.
“Constituents of mine who made valid objections will be left feeling angry and ignored. Both Maybury and Cammo have been subject to planning applications recently precisely because those sites are included in the proposed plan. Those applications will not go away because of the action today – developers wishing to develop the Greenbelt will merely be encouraged.
“I have campaigned against development on these sites for ten years. I am not giving up the fight and will continue to object to development of these sites.”
Mr Keir is a supporter of The Campaign Against the Development of Cammo & Maybury (CADCAM), which was formed to campaign against the removal of greenfield sites at Cammo and Maybury from green belt designation in order to develop the sites for up to a combined total of 2100 houses.
The proposal to release this land for housing forms part of the proposed Local Development Plan, and the group argues that their communities will be adversely affected by further development.
CADCAM argue that junctions at Maybury, East Craigs and Barnton are already struggling at peak times and that proposed new developments will multiply that problem.
An added concern is poor air quality which affects both St John’s Road and Queensferry Road (both have been singled out recently as among the worst polluted roads in the country) – which is only likely to get worse with increased traffic – and they also believe that the community infrastructure – schools, GP and dental surgeries, etc. – will be put under unbearable pressure.
Almost four hundred local people took part in Friday’s Muirhouse Million Steps event. Local schools were well represented on the walk, which was also supported by Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir.
And did those marching feet make the magical million milestone? We’ll have to wait until next week to find out! Event organiser Lisa Arnott, Pilton Community Health Project’s Healthy Lifestyles coordinator, has promised to be in touch soon.
Some photographs of the event:
