Edinburgh At Risk Day Today Sat 31st May

Cartoon by Frank Boyle which appeared in The Evening News August 2007.
See bigger Cartoon here

Edinburgh At Risk Day Today Saturday 31st May 10 -4pm

“Edinburgh is at greater risk than it has been since the 1960`s”

Conservation Architect James Simpson OBE (ICOMOS newsletter Spring 2008)

James Simpson will be opening the day at approx 11am, venue at 8 St Marys which is open from 10am for coffees etc

Come and find out what’s going on in the city of Edinburgh and its surrounding areas. Have you got concerns about proposed developments, demolitions of buildings, disappearing green spaces and management of Common Good Land and Assets? Don’t know what to do? Come and meet others who have concerns and find what they are doing.

EAR was founded by a number of Edinburgh campaigns in 2007 and is a non-political umbrella organisation open to all who value the city’s communities, culture, history and her future. Campaigns involved so far include Save Our Old Town, Save Meadowbank, Orroco Pier (South Queensferry), Porty Greenkeepers, Friends of Corstorphine Hill and Save Glenogle Baths ...

Come along to The Canongate Project shop at 8 St Mary’s Street, just off The Royal Mile. Stay for entire day or drop in at whatever time suits you. Films, workshops and discussions etc

More at Save Our Old Town Website

Above is the architect Allan Murray and if you see him in your neighbourhood be afraid,be very afraid

Caltongate or Edinburgh must Die

Week 4 Events

The Canongate Project is going so well, thanks to all who have been along and enjoyed the various events so far, here are the latest ones this week

Wednesday 28th May
6.30pm - 7.45pm Walking talk on Women of the Old Town with Donald Smith of Scottish Storytelling Centre. Leave from 8 St Marys St.

Thursday 29th May
7pm - 9pm Talk by Wendy Reid of Development Trusts Association Scotland. Learn how local people can set up Development Trusts to improve the quality of life in their community.
7pm - 8.30pm Banner making group Come and help produce a community banner. A great opportunity to create something special for the Canongate.Every Thursday until the 5th June

Friday 30th May
3-5pm Street Party Organising Group Get involved in organising the Street Party. A fantastic day out for all the community and visitors

Saturday 31st May
10-4pm Edinburgh At Risk

“Edinburgh is at greater risk than it has been since the 1960`s”
Conservation Architect James Simpson OBE (ICOMOS newsletter Spring 2008)

Come and find out what’s going on in the city of Edinburgh and its surrounding areas. Have you got concerns about proposed developments, demolitions of buildings, disappearing green spaces and management of Common Good Land and Assets? Don’t know what to do? Come and meet others who have concerns and find what they are doing.

EAR was founded by a number of Edinburgh campaigns in 2007 and is a non-political umbrella organisation open to all who value the city’s communities, culture, history and her future. Campaigns involved so far include Save Our Old Town, Save Meadowbank, Orroco Pier (South Queensferry), Porty Greenkeepers, and Save Glenogle Baths.

Come along to The Canongate Project shop at 8 St Mary’s Street, just off The Royal Mile. Stay for entire day or drop in at whatever time suits you. Films, workshops and discussions etc More at www.eh8.org.uk

11am-1pm Film Screenings 4 "Community Counts"A collection of contemporary films looking at particular issues raised by communities of place and communities of interest which includes advice about community campaigning and a comic short about community consultation.

Sunday 1st June
2-3.30pm Walk with Jim Johnson around the Old Town focussing on the street improvement schemes. Leave from 8 St Marys St

2-4pm Family Funday activities, face painting, stalls, refreshments

3-4pm Street Party Organising Group Get involved in organising the Street Party. A fantastic day out for all the community and visitors on the 28th June

The Canongate Project Events

All events are here at The Canongate Project Shop, 8 St Mary’s Street,. Walks leave from here. Please book in advance for walks and talks to avoid disappointment.

This weekends events

Starting Friday 9th 3pm -5pm Street Party Organising Group

Get involved in organising the Street Party. A fantastic day out for all the community and visitors.
Then every Sunday from 11th May 3-4pm until the 8th June

And Fridays from the 16th May 3-5pm until the 13th June

Street Party on Saturday 28th June Street Party 11-4pm East Market Street –Stalls, Live Music, Children’s Activities, Street Theatre Saturday 10th May

11am -1pm Repeat of Film Screen 1 A Mile of Memories
A collection of historical documentary and educational films featuring the Royal Mile and including Walkabout Edinburgh with Richard Demarco from 1970.

Saturday 1pm - 2.30pm Banner Making Group Launch

Come and help produce a community banner. A great opportunity to create something special for the Canongate. There will be a trip to the People’s Story Museum on The Canongate to look at community banners from the past. Meet at shop first.

Sunday 11th May 3-4pm Street party Organising Group.

Get involved in organising the Street party on East Market Street. A fantastic day for all the Community and visitors on Saturday 28th June 11-4pm. Live music, street theatre, stalls, childrens activities.


Sunday 4.30pm -6 pm 'Hidden Gardens of the Royal Mile'.

Walking tour with Jean Bareham of Bluyonder Tours. The tour will include some social history, but will mainly cover how people use green space in the city these days.
See a little-known side of Edinburgh's Old Town in this easy walking tour. Behind the historic buildings discover the surprising number of gardens and green 'nooks and crannies', all with a story to tell. You'll see modern community gardens created by today's residents; hear how 70 derelict sites were made into children's gardens in the 19th Century; and take a breather in a beautiful space laid out and planted as a 17th century Scots town garden.

Rest of Programme

TALKS

May

Wednesday 14th May 2pm - 3.30pm
Talk and discussion with Jane Jackson and David Hicks of The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. What does World Heritage Status mean to Edinburgh and her residents.

Wednesday 14th May 7pm - 9pm
Talk by Eileen Inglis of Scotland UnLtd, Do you have an idea to make a difference in your community? Come and find out how you can get support and funding.

Thursday 15th May 2pm - 4pm
Talk by Wendy Reid of Development Trusts Association Scotland. Learn how local people can set up Development Trusts to improve the quality of life in their community.

Wednesday 21st May 7pm - 9pm
Talk by Bern Balfe, Presentation and discussion about the architect’s design process and how it can serve
the needs of a community

Thursday 22nd May 2pm - 4pm
Sally Richardson of the Save Our Old Town Campaign

Thursday 22nd May 7pm -9pm
Talk - The Radical History of The Canongate with Craig McLean. A presentation & discussion including footage of 1937 May Day march through the Canongate.

Monday 26th May 6pm -7.30pm
Talk with Elizabeth Graham of the Cockburn Association on the heritage organisation’s work.

Thursday 29th May 7pm - 9pm
Talk by Wendy Reid of Development Trusts Association Scotland. Learn how local people can set up Development Trusts to improve the quality of life in their community.

June Talks

Wednesday 4th June 6pm -7pm
Talk by Di Jennings of Local People Leading. LPL campaigns for a strong and independent community sector.

Friday 6th June 6pm - 7.30pm
Talk and discussion with Jane Jackson and David Hicks of The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. What does World Heritage Status mean to Edinburgh and her residents.

Saturday 7th June 1pm - 3pm
Community Land Partnerships. Talk with Chris Cook.

Sunday 8th June 1pm - 3pm.
Workshop by Bob Hamilton from Citystrolls, Glasgow. How you can be active and make a difference in your community.

Monday 9th June. 7pm - 9pm
Talk “Family Connection” – with Janet Fenton a narrative of personal connection and recollection with the Old Town

Wednesday 11th June 6pm - 8pm
Talk by Sally Richardson of The Save Our Old Town Campaign.

WALKS

Wednesday 28th May 6.30p - 7.45pm
Walking talk on Women of the Old Town with Donald Smith of Scottish Storytelling Centre

Sunday 1st June 2pm - 3.30pm
Walk with Jim Johnson around the Old Town focussing on the street improvement schemes.

Wednesday 4th June 6.30pm - 8pm
Jim Johnson leads a walk around the now redeveloped former S&N breweries between Canongate and Holyrood Road.

Sunday 8th June. 1pm - 2.30pm
Radical walk of the Old Town’ with Allan Armstrong.


WEEKLY GROUPS

Street Party Organising Group

Starting Friday 9th 3pm -5pm
Get involved in organising the Street Party. A fantastic day out for all the community and visitors.

Then every Sunday from 11th May 3-4pm until the 8th June

And Fridays from the 16th May 3-5pm until the 13th June

Saturday 28th June Street Party 11-4pm East Market Street –Stalls, Live Music, Children’s Activities, Street Theatre


Banner Making Group

Banner making group Thursday 15th May 7pm - 8.30pm
Come and help produce a community banner. A great opportunity to create something special for the Canongate.
Then every Thursday until the 5th June


REMINISCENCE GROUP

Tuesday 13th May, 3-4pm.
The memories and experiences of people testify to the special significance of the Canongate. If you have spent time in the Canongate at some point in your life drop in and join us for a chat and a cup of tea.
Then every Tuesday until the 10th June 3-4pm



ALL – DAY GATHERINGS


Common Good Day Scotland

Saturday 24th May 10am-4pm

Common Good is the name given to the inherited property of the former burghs of Scotland. This land and assets still exist and still belong to the people and could be a significant resource for regenerating local communities.. Common Good expert Andy Wightman will be in attendance along with others involved in campaigns throughout the country. Come and get involved in reclaiming the rightful inheritance of the people of Scotland. Come and spend the day with all those involved in reclaiming our Common Good. Discussions, talks, films….information to take away so you can become a Common Good Detective

www.scottishcommons.org.uk




Edinburgh at Risk Day

Saturday 31st May 10-4pm

Come and find out what’s going on in Edinburgh and its surrounding areas…Have you got concerns? Don’t know what to do? Come and meet others who did and what they are doing. EAR was founded by a number of on-going Edinburgh campaigns and is a non-political umbrella organisation open to all who value the city’s culture, history and future and wishes full recognition of Edinburgh’s Common Good.

Film and Photography

Monday 12th May 2pm - 4pm An introduction to Film Making.

Monday 19th May 2-4pm Film Making and Photography


FILM SCREENINGS


Past Perspectives

A collection of dramatisations, experimental, and artistic films looking at some of the characteristics of Edinburgh and her inhabitants from the Scottish Screen Archives.

Tuesday 13th May 7-9pm and Saturday 17th May 11am-1pm


The Bigger Picture

A collection of contemporary films which consider current UK-wide
development trends and the threats to the future arising from them.
These films highlight issues such as loss of identity and heritage,
gentrification, sustainability and quality of design.

Tuesday 20th May 7-9pm and Saturday 24th May 11am-1pm.


Community Counts

A collection of contemporary films looking at particular issues raised
by communities of place and communities of interest which includes advice about community campaigning and a comic short about community consultation.

Tuesday 27th May 7-9pm Saturday 31st May 11am-1pm

Changing Policy

A collection of films and news clips looking at the changing theories
of planning and development through a collection of archive films
and clips highlighting previous trends and policies.

Tuesday 3rd June 7-9pm and Saturday 7th June 11am-1pm


Moving Forward

Films to inspire: examples of successful campaigns and initiatives
that utilise new opportunities which are available to grow and
develop community assets.

Tuesday 10th June 7-9pm and Saturday 14th June 11am – 1pm

Corstorphine Hill threatened by developers

There are plans to build luxury homes on Corstorphine Hill. These are NOT desperately needed homes i.e. family sized social housing that people in Edinburgh can afford but those big fancy Cala Homes. Corstorphine Hill is a unique habitat to plants and animals and we need to preserve our natural habitats as well as improve the habitats for animals kept in the zoo.

Eddie Price from Friends of Corstorphine Hill (March 2008 Newsletter here) is part of Edinburgh at Risk (EAR), a group that is getting together too discuss the damage of our beautiful city, our city that seems to get sold off to the highest bidder with no consultation with the wider community - hopefully we can campaign together too.

If you are involved in a campaign to stave off unhelpful developments or developments that are out off character in Edinburgh or the shutting down of a community facility - come to the Canongate Community Forum on Tuesday, 25th March 2008 at 7pm at 8 St Mary's St to meet other campaigners and concerned citizens.

By GARETH EDWARDS in the Evening News

AN expert group has been set up to fight Edinburgh Zoo's controversial plans to sell off land for homes.

The zoo's £72 million expansion plans were thrown into doubt last year after councillors voted to oppose the development of houses off Kaimes Road.

The plans are a key part of the zoo's masterplan and are the focus of a local public inquiry later this year. The Friends of Corstorphine Trust – one of the main objectors, has now enlisted the help of planning experts from community councils to prepare a case ahead of the inquiry, and any possible appeal against the final decision.

The trust warned that if the zoo's plans went ahead it would bring traffic chaos to the area.

Eddie Price, chairman of the Corstorphine group, said it wanted to be prepared.

"It is impossible to know whether the zoo will appeal the council's decision, although I would imagine with so much at stake that it will," he said.

"We have been working with local community councils in the area to get together a working group of people who know about planning and traffic issues, so that we can look at all the arguments and be prepared.

"These plans are of huge concern to local people. If they went ahead it is likely local roads would grind to a halt."

The city council's planning committee overturned the authority's previous support for housing on part of the Corstorphine Hill site last October.

The zoo had hoped to sell off the land to raise up to £20m to help fund its 20-year masterplan to create a world-class visitor attraction. More than 200 people opposed the plans, including the Friends of Corstorphine Trust.

A final decision on the housing plans will be made at a local public inquiry, due to be held towards the end of this year. The trust's expert group has looked at the issues surrounding the development, and has drawn up a map to highlight just how serious traffic problems in the area could become.

As well as plans to develop housing on the west side of the zoo, there are proposals to install a roundabout and traffic lights on Corstorphine Road. These would be needed to deal with the extra traffic created by new houses – including a nearby development of 130 flats – as well as increased visitors to the zoo and an expansion of the nearby Forestry Commission car park.

The zoo's masterplan is aimed at turning the attraction into a modern wildlife and research facility attracting almost a million visitors a year. Under the plans, ageing cages would be replaced. The first stage of the 20-year plan would see a £10 million wildlife trail made to form an all-weather exhibit. It will feature the almost-complete Budongo chimpanzee enclosure, the new Rainbow Landings bird exhibit and a forthcoming rhino enclosure.

David Windmill, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: "We will be involved in the local inquiry later this year."

A zoo spokeswoman said it could not comment about a possible appeal until the outcome of the inquiry.

Edinburgh at Risk

EAR on Youtube

Capital has a heritage worth standing up for

THE intention of the council to withdraw support for Edinburgh World Heritage comes as no surprise to campaigners embroiled in myriad struggles with a council intent on destroying the city's heritage by adopting a policy of flogging off assets as a short term cure for the financial mismanagement of previous administrations.

The result of this intention will be the continued transformation of Edinburgh from a city of heritage and character to a banal living space. One only has to look at the changing skyline over recent years to witness its evolution from historic city of unique character to mere development opportunity for Legoland flats.

Short-sighted and unethical decisions such as this withdrawal of funding fail to take account of longer-term impact upon the city community or that community's views. Compare the councils cosy attitude to developments such as Caltongate which threatens the very heart of the city or the Orrocco Hotel extension over public land to its hostile disregard for those who development affects most.

The result has been the formation of a whole host of community based campaigns determined to save the city's Common Good assets.

Facilities such as Meadowbank Stadium and Portobello Park belong to us and are supposed to be managed on our behalf but are being auctioned off against our wishes. Even the watchdog Audit Scotland is complicit in this sell off, sitting on its hands as Edinburgh and other councils hock our assets.

Councillors turn their pockets inside out to demonstrate fiscal powerlessness and close schools while public finances swill about and sink into private coffers for the development of trams and staging umpteen festivals.

My view is that the bad news for you, the reader, is that while you too sit on your hands, this situation will get worse. You will have to get used to the decimation of the city's character and the theft of common good assets while your council tax money augments the profits of private developers and subsidises events outside the city, such as Glasgow's hosting of 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The ray of hope is that local people are organising themselves to resist. The rise of organisations such as Save Our Old Town, Porty Greenkeepers, Save Our Schools and the success of Portobello Campaign Against the Superstore, etc, indicates that people realise they cannot trust political parties to represent their interests.

This is reflected throughout Scotland where the Development Trusts Association for Scotland and Local People Leading report Edinburgh City Council is prepared to see Edinburgh go from World Heritage site to just another vapid modern city - just as they prepared to destroy our heritage and public utilities for a short term "solutions".

By Kevin F Ferguson who is a member of Edinburgh At Risk Article Dec 07

Save Meadowbank Porty Greenkeepers Save Glenogle Baths

Friends of CorstorphineHill Gardyloo Save Our Old Town