Portobello Greenkeepers.org.uk
Portobello Park Action Group
Portobello Park Action Group is a Community Action Group formed by people who enjoy
Portobello Park and Golf Course for sporting and recreational purposes and who are
concerned about the council's proposal to build housing and school(s) on the Park. This is the only sizeable piece of green land in the area and is much used and loved by a wide variety of local residents, school children, golfers, dog walkers, footballers and nature lovers. We want the best for all of the children in our community both in health and education.
Our aim is to preserve this piece of central, accessible green space for future generations to enjoy because, once built upon, it will be lost forever. Green space is fast being used up all over the country and is particularly important in urban areas close to where people live, performing the function of lungs for the city. This
Common Good Land
and should be protected.
We believe the council should consider other options and alternatives for replacing local schools and look into other ways of funding them other than disposing of public assets to pay for them. One of the proposed sites for a new school is presently being considered by the council for a rail transfer station for residual waste. This has been opposed by many people including Councillors and MSPs.
"I know that Gavin Strang MP and George Foulkes MSP have also written letters of objection. Councillor Ewan Aitken and all my Portobello/Craigmillar Council colleagues have also expressed their opposition."
- Councillor Child
Scottish ministers are committed to strengthening protection for existing open space resources and ensuring that the future open space needs of all communities are planned for. This Scottish Planning Policy (SSP) sets out national policy on planning for open space and facilities for sport and recreation. Your attention is drawn to the following aspects of the SPP in particular:
Every Scottish local authority must now undertake an open space audit and prepare an open space strategy. Once in place, these should be reviewed on a regular 5 year cycle to link with development plan preparation.
A presumption against development on open spaces which are valued and functional, or which are capable of being brought back into functional use to meet a need identified in the open space strategy.
A requirement to notify Scottish Ministers before granting planning permission for development which would result in the loss of land identified as open space in the development plan.
This land was sold to the council in 1898 to be used exclusively as a public park and recreation ground for the community of Edinburgh in perpetuity and should remain so. If you support our campaign, please sign the E-Petition
and make a comment if you wish.
We have a legal opinion to state that the land is
Common Good Land
, yet the council appear to be ignoring this.
Review of Common Good in Edinburgh - PDF (LARGE FILE 1.9Mb)
Andy Wightman - Edinburgh's Common Good Land Talk
Augustine United Church,
George IV Bridge Edinburgh, 22nd May 7pm
COMMON GOOD STATUS FOR PARK Source - The Portobello Reporter. The Independant Local Newspaper.
A REPORT to the City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed the legal opinion obtained by the Portobello Park Action Group that, because of the history of its acquisition, Portobello Park and Golf Course are Common Good land. This means that it must remain in Council ownership, with none sold for housing, and administered in the interests of the city's residents. The land was purchased in 1898, by the City of Edinburgh Corporation, for £25,000, to fulfil their obligation under the 1896 Edinburgh Extension Act to "acquire, dedicate and thereafter maintain for public use a public park or recreation ground".
The Council is not entitled to use Common Good assets for the provision of statutory services (such as education), so if it goes ahead with the plan to build a school on the park, it will have to go to court to obtain permission, and will also have to pay into the Common Good fund an amount equal to the market value of the land. The question of where the money for a new school will come from remains unanswered.
Read the Latest Update
Greenspaces are breathing places
greenspace scotland's consultation event on 18 February -Towards a mentally flourishing Scotland - the role of greenspace drew a huge response from health and greenspace sectors keen to contribute to the Scottish Government's action plan for mental health improvement in Scotland. The event was the latest in our ongoing programme of work on greenspace and health and featured presentations by Gregor Henderson, Director of the Scottish Government's National Programme for improving mental health and wellbeing; Allyson McCollum, Chief Executive of the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health; and Kevin Lafferty, National Health Advisor with Forestry Commission Scotland. Each highlighted increasing evidence of the positive benefits that quality greenspace can have on mental wellbeing.
Those attending identified a range of actions and priorities that will be submitted to the Scottish Government. A full event report and consultation response will be available on the website in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your support.
Green Space Seminar - A Great Success
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