Community Council will challenge Marine Drive development

Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council will object to plans to develop the former Civil Service Playing Fields at Marine Drive. The playing fields, now managed by Edinburgh’s Telford College, have been earmarked for a World of Football sport and leisure complex but the local community council will not be supporting the initiative.

A local resident has written to the community council expressing concerns over the development. He says: ‘Some years ago there were plans to build the new Craigroyston High School on the Green Belt; the community successfully resisted and rejected the proposal. This new proposal, which is no doubt controversial but no more so than building a school, has as far as is known been agreed in a deal between World of Football and Telford College. The chipping away of open spaces, particularly the Green Belt, has to be vigorously opposed. Communities have had the benefit of the Green Belt through the foresight of past generations; we in turn must leave it for future generations. Will the community council take up this urgent issue?’

Muirhouse Salvesen Community Council chairman Roy Douglas (pictured above) confirmed that the community council will indeed take up the issue. He said: “The first we heard about these plans was when the story appeared in the NEN. why should
the college or anyone else come along and use up greenspace without consulting the community? As a Community Council we will be objecting to any planning for this type of change.”

Flying the flag: Edinburgh’s greenest of them all!

Edinburgh’s parks have scooped a record number of Green Flag Awards for the best green spaces in Scotland. Of 44 flags awarded in Scotland this year, the capital scooped no less than 24 awards – more than half of all flags presented across the country!

Ravelston Park and Woods is one of four new city parks to receive Green Flag recognition for the first time this year, and they join twenty who retained their awards from last year.

Parks are judged against eight criteria, including community involvement and sustainability. The Green Flag Awards criteria:

  • A welcoming place
  • Healthy, safe and secure
  • Clean and well maintained
  • Sustainability
  • Conservation and heritage
  • Community involvement
  • Marketing
  • Management

Welcoming the announcement, city environment leader Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “We’re delighted that, once again, Edinburgh is leading the way is providing high quality parks and gardens for our residents. The awards positively reflect on the hard work carried out by local communities and staff to ensure Edinburgh’s renowned parks are preserved.”

Flag raising ceremonies will take place in the four newly awarded parks next week.

The Green Flag Awards were established by Keep Britain Tidy in 1996. Paul Todd, Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “An award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy”.

Edinburgh’s green roll of honour

The parks and green spaces in Edinburgh to be given a Green Flag Award this year are:

  • Prestonfield Park (New award)
  • Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve and Park      (New award)
  • Ferry Glen and Back Braes (New award)
  • Lochend Park (New award)
  • Braidburn Valley Park
  • Pentland Hills Regional Park
  • Harrison Park
  • Easter Craiglockhart Hill LNR
  • Hopetoun Crescent Garden
  • Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park
  • Inverleith Park
  • Figgate Park
  • Station Road Park
  • London Road Gardens
  • Corstorphine Hill
  • Craigmillar Castle Park
  • Portobello Community Garden
  • Morningside Park
  • Muir Wood Park
  • Hailes Quarry Park
  • Victoria Park
  • Hermitage and Blackford Hill Local Nature      Reserve
  • St Margaret’s Park
  • Princes Street Gardens

For more information on the Green Flag Award scheme, visit ww.keepbritaintidy.org/GreenFlag.