Waterfront 'risks turning into massive ghetto'

Published on Friday 2 November 2007 11:58

LEITH Docks risks becoming "a ghetto of enormous proportions" if a massive redevelopment goes ahead in its current form, community leaders have warned.

A joint submission by three community councils, backed by two politicians, has outlined a series of concerns about Forth Ports' plans for the waterfront.

Among the warnings the document sounds are permanent damage to the Leith waterline, increases in antisocial behaviour and no sense of community.

Forth Ports responded by saying it welcomed all comments and that the community would "have an impact" on how the biggest planning application ever to come before the council is drawn up.

The letter, written by Leith Central and Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Councils, states: "The natural waterline will be lost, owing to the height of the new structures and the contrast with the architecture of historical Leith. The waterline will disappear and look as if it is an appendage, rather than a natural development of Leith.

"In both the seafront walkway and the road directly behind it, there are no activity-led spaces that will generate vibrancy and safety. We believe the areas will fall into disrepair and become a barren, dead area - a ghetto of enormous proportions."

The Evening News revealed in September how thousands of new homes would be built, leisure centres created and numerous jobs attracted to Leith under the radical 30-year plan.

The proposal, which is only an outline application at this stage, was broadly welcomed by locals and celebrities alike, including The Proclaimers. However, the submission by the Leith Docks Response Group cites influential figures such as Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm and Leith councillor Gordon Munro, and will be a blow to the scheme.

The document continues: "We think that the whole development is back to front. The urban professional target group that dominates the planning process, and leads to heavy emphasis on one and two-bedroom apartments, is a transient population that moves in and out of the area and does not establish lasting links with the community."

A spokesman for Forth Ports said: "When you are doing as broad and wide a consultation of course you are going to get a range of opinions. The overwhelming majority if people in Leith are part of this process and in favour of what is happening. The alternative to not having a regeneration is something they don't want to see. The broad opinion is this is good for the area."