Advice from Councillor Maureen Child

As probably already know, the Council has its Second Proposed Edinburgh Local Development Plan (LDP) out for public consultation. As part of this, a current housing proposal is to take a large area of land, immediately south of the Brunstane Burn and north of Newcraighall, between Brunstane House and Newhailes House, out of the Green Belt. Without the Green Belt designation, it is far more likely that any planning application to build houses on this land would be successful. The Brunstane site, which would possibly accommodate around 1330 housing units, would be accessed from the north by a new road off Milton Road East, beside the cemetery, with new bridges built over the Brunstane Burn and the main East Coast railway line. Residents groups and Community Council representatives from both Portobello and Craigmillar have got together to coordinate objections to the removal of Green Belt designation, which currently is a strong protection against development.  Portobello Amenity Society, for one, believe it is vital to protect this part of the Green Belt to avoid coalescence between Edinburgh and Musselburgh. They also believe that the settings of both Brunstane House and Newhailes House – highly important A listed country houses of great architectural and historical importance – would be severely compromised if this proposal goes ahead. We have made similar arguments in resisting current Green Belt development proposals at Edmonstone which provides a similarly effective boundary with Danderhall in Midlothian. This Brunstane proposal will also have a huge impact on the road network in Milton Road East and Newcraighall as well as implications for local schools and public transport. A packed public meeting, attended by at least 200 people, was ably chaired by my colleague Councillor David Walker, at the Kings Manor Hotel, on 25 September, to discuss this proposal. Further information about this proposal and about the Second Proposed LDP, can be found at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/localdevelopmentplan. Copies of the plan can also be seen in Portobello or Craigmillar Libraries. Comments on the proposals have to be lodged by 3^rd October at 5pm on special forms which can be downloaded from the above website or obtained by contacting localdevelopmentplan@edinburgh.gov.uk or by phoning 0131 529 4692.  Please note that individually composed letters, rather than petitions or signed forms with the same wording, are very much more powerful.  And you must use the right forms.

Portobello/Craigmillar Ward has an established Neighbourhood Partnership.  Ours is chaired by Councillor Mike Bridgman. Edinburgh’s Neighbourhood Partnerships bring together the community, police, health, fire and rescue, voluntary sector and local Councillors, supported by officers from the Council. Each of Edinburgh’s 12 Neighbourhood Partnerships has a three year local community plan, which identifies local priorities informed by communities. The priorities in the plans cover a range of themes including health, transport, environment, community safety, children and older people. Working with communities and partners, Neighbourhood Partnerships aim to tackle these issues and make neighbourhoods a better place to live. The new local community plans 2014-17 will be published in October. Copies will be available local libraries, neighbourhood offices, at Neighbourhood Partnership events or online at www.edinburghnp.org.uk  For more details of activity across the city, see the Neighbourhood Partnership newsletter by clicking on: bit.ly/1ni8bko

Maureen Child, extract from her newsletter.