Floating village 'will be tribute to Leith visionary'

Published on Friday 24 November 2006 11:53

PLANS for floating holiday accommodation on the Water of Leith are to be pushed through as a tribute to the man who came up with the idea.

Architect and property developer David Stamp bought the part of the waterway that stretches for a mile from the Victoria Bridge on The Shore more than 25 years ago.

Boats that could be used as accommodation for holidaymakers was central to his vision of a thriving business and leisure community on the waterway.

But he was never able to see it completed as he collapsed while cycling in North Berwick's High Street last weekend and died soon afterwards. Now his business partner says he will push ahead with the vision for the area in tribute to Mr Stamp.

He says that he wants The Shore to become as attractive as Nottingham's eight-mile-long canal trail, where tourists can rent out holiday accommodation in boats.

Fred Multon, director of Water of Leith 2000 insists he will do his best to make his late fellow director's vision a reality.

He said: "David's been in this from the beginning and a lot of his ideas are only now beginning to come to fruition. Unfortunately, he's seen only the beginning of it.

"We want to continue to carry out his ideas and make them happen. Getting some sort of holiday element similar to the letting flats that are available for holidaymakers in the city centre was always an ambition of his.

"Now that we are getting some businesses in boats at The Shore there is growing enthusiasm for the idea and people believe in it.

"This idea would not have been imaginable 25 years ago when the waterway was purchased. Leith was a no-go area and now it's completely different. David started that transformation off and we want to continue it."

Already there are two office barges on The Shore and a third is set to arrive next week - which is expected to be available to let from next May.

Ocean Mist, a cruise ship once owned by the Guinness family, is set to begin a new life within days as a piano bar, nightclub and restaurant complex called Cruz.

Water of Leith 2000 intends to put in a planning application for boats with accommodation in the near future, and if granted they would then decide whether an external company would run the project or even do it themselves.

It is intended that the holiday accommodation would be further downstream than The Shore, around Bernard Street Bridge.

Mr Multon added: "I think it could be very successful. It would be a holiday with a difference and there's great access to the city centre. We need to be taking full advantage of having a waterway there - any other city would."

Mr Stamp ran his architect firm, Gilmour & Stamp, from the MY Eala Bhan boat on The Shore.

Prue McLaughlin, who has been the office manager at the firm for nearly 16 years, said he was always passionate about the waterway.

She said: "More than 20 years ago David was able to see the opportunities that this stretch of water offered when it became available.

"He long had plans for it to develop into what we are now seeing. A lot of the dreams didn't come true as quickly as he may have liked but they are starting to now.

"Leith was in the doldrums then and it has only gradually become the trendy place it is now. David was very passionate about that continuing."