Brunstane Residents group updates

Councillor David Walker confirmed that the important date for us to work towards is still May 14th (deferred from 26th Feb) when the Council will make their decision on the local development plan (LDP2).

We hope to have a deputation of 2 or 3 people from each of the local community/residents groups attend the Council meeting on 14th Feb and present the different aspects of our case. It would be really helpful if people can think through/discuss who is able to come and let David know. We will also be in touch regarding written submissions.

Due to the postponement of the decision in Feb there is no local development plan in place right now so developers can go straight to the Scottish Government for permission to build until 14th May. It's therefore important that as many people as possible write to there MSPs to ask for their support. A note telling them that, in the wake of a public meeting in Brunstane there has been a vigorous campaign to save the fields and asking them to confirm their support will suffice.

Sean has also been hosting visits from local schools who are supportive.

Newhailes have also been in touch with David offering support for the campaign so hopefully they'll become involved too.

PETITION
We now have over a thousand signatures between the online and hard copy petitions and need volunteers to gather more down in Portobello on Saturday mornings on the run up to May 14th.
The plan is also to set up a Scottish Parlaimentary Petition as well.

LEGAL CHALLENGE
This is in hand and will be progressed should the council agree that the fields should be built on.

ACTION POINTS
Write to MSPs.
Deputations for 14th May..nominees.
Set up parliamentary petition.
Clarify position with regard to submissions.
Volunteers for petition, leaflets etc.

We hope this is helpful.
L and C, Brunstane Residents Group.

Evening News article: Brunstane Residents group

By PARIS GOURTSOYANNIS

paris.gourtsoyannis@edinburghnews.com

Residents opposing plans to open up greenbelt land between Portobello and Musselburgh for the construction of thousands of homes say they are willing to take their fight to the Court of Session.
An online petition against plans to include land at Brunstane in a key planning blueprint for the city – opening it up for 1700 homes to be built – has gained 684 signatures.
Campaigners say that if the land is built on, it will pave over the last bit of green belt between Edinburgh and 
Musselburgh, snarl traffic across east Edinburgh, and see the newly-opened John Muir Way walking trail cut by a new main road.

Lawyer Martin Kelly said he had compiled an objection ahead of a council meeting to discuss the plans in two weeks.

He said: “The green belt at Brunstane is key to retaining the character of Newcraighall village, which would be completely swallowed up by Edinburgh if the land is built on, and there wouldn’t really be much left to distinguish Edinburgh from Musselburgh.
“We’re certainly prepared to take our case to court if necessary.”
Councillors are set to vote on the controversial second Local Development Plan (LDP2) on May 14, after almost a year of delays that have thrown the city’s planning system in chaos.
Even if councillors accept developers’ concerns and remove the Brunstane area from the plan, the decision could be overruled by the Scottish Government planning reporter if the city is deemed to have allocated insufficient land for housebuilding.


Edinburgh must build 32,000 new homes by 2024 in order to meet Scottish housing supply requirements, but critics have already warned that its proposed LDP falls thousands of homes short of that goal.
However, Mr Kelly said that if land at Brunstane remains in the LDP after being considered by the planning reporter, he is willing to take a legal challenge to the Court of Session himself.
Councillor David Walker, who represents the Portobello/Craigmillar ward that contains the affected area, said the land was “unsuitable” for development and called for the council to look to the west of the city to meet its housebuilding targets – arguing that development there would also boost the tram line.
Labour member Mr Walker said: “The East Coast Main Line cuts straight through the area, and there’s no road access to that piece of land at the moment. Any road that was put into that piece of land would also have to cut across the John Muir Way.


“There are other options available, for instance a vast piece of land to the west of the city in the Garden District. The landowners there have indicated there could be up to 3000 houses developed.”

Petition to save greenbelt at Brunstane attracts 700 supporters

29 Apr 2015 — Things are really moving apace in the campaign to save southeast Edinburgh’s greenbelt. Not only did our threat of a legal challenge make the press yesterday http://t.co/ptzQQfdfm0 - but our petition against development has now attracted 700 supporters. Please could you publicise the campaign amongst friends, family and colleagues so we can try achieve 800+ supporters of our petition, before the Council’s Planning Committee meets on 14 May!

And thanks to all of you who has supported us so far.


https://www.change.org/p/city-of-edinburgh-council-planning-committee-save-edinburgh-s-greenbelt-at-brunstane-from-development/u/10656269?tk=AK2OGJPcAAIDFxyL5v6vtNojfzNvo_2hCLqGgkTjEyY&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email