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)
We do not claim to represent the whole of the community
but we do represent the SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY
Many Thanks to Rob Goddard
Council audit on open space
Estate agents lend support
COMMON GOOD STATUS FOR PARK (Article contributed to The Portobellor Reporter, Spring 2008).
The Portobello Reporter is a very well respected, 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
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Do Not be Mislead - Newsflash
Response from Education Convener
National Trust - "Green Space Poverty Rife"
A brief breakdown of findings:
Green places are used regularly by most people. Approximately half of people surveyed visit a park more than once a month and around 3 in 10 people visit wild green places, woodland, and riversides or canals more than once a month.
Coastline, beaches, parks and wild open spaces are the most highly valued, while wild open spaces and woodland areas are considered to be most at risk. Our survey also showed that allotments are growing in importance - thanks to the popularity of growing your own veggies.
The top three reasons why people appreciate green places are:
They offer plenty of fresh air and space.
They are great for relaxing.
They offer lots of opportunities to spot wildlife.
Green place poverty
Our survey revealed that whilst green places are important for everyone, many people have access to just two or fewer green places:
One in four people living in urban areas suffer from green place poverty
One in eight of all people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland suffer from "green place poverty"¤.
Young people under thirty are also more likely to be missing regular contact with the natural world as part or their daily lives, with one in five with access to two or fewer green places within easy reach of their homes.
¤ We looked at how many people were living in ‘green place poverty’, which was measured against the following criteria - access to two or fewer green places = green place poverty, three to six green places = average, seven or more green places = green place affluence.
So what does the future hold?
The majority of people think that local green places are at risk and important to protect.
Three out of four people are willing to help protect their local green places, particularly local woodlands and wildlife areas.
Responses to Survey
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.
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