Charity aims to put city on safe route

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 09:24

A CHARITY which lobbies for safer, more attractive streets is set to launch a new campaign group in Edinburgh.

Living Streets, which was formed in 1929 as the Pedestrians' Association, aims to reduce on-street clutter and make improvements to public places.

The Edinburgh arm will be launched by Green MSP Robin Harper at an event in the Capital tomorrow.

Armadale woman Jemma Boyle will be among those attending after winning a UK-wide photo competition to mark the charity's 80th birthday.

Keith Irving, Living Streets' Scotland manager, said: "Living Streets is an important voice for people who realise that our streets are vital to the health of our communities – whether that's encouraging walking to combat obesity, pollution and congestion, or making sure the places we live are not just traffic corridors.

"We want anyone with an interest in making Edinburgh streets better places to walk, to go along to this exciting first meeting."

John Russell, a local campaigner from the Edinburgh group, said: "One of the great things about this city is that it's easy to walk to get to places. It would be fantastic to get more people involved so we can make a real difference in the city."