8000 join battle to block park sell-off

Dozens of activists were today set to gather outside the City Chambers to highlight opposition to plans to build luxury housing at a former council depot on the edge of the grounds.

They fear the loss of a public asset as well as the impact the seven planned flats would have on the park and views across Edinburgh.

Councillors were expected to agree with a motion put forward by local councillors Lesley Hinds and Iain Whyte to order a report looking at the financial, environmental and operational consequences of selling the land.

Nigel Bagshaw, chairman of Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council, said the amount of public support was "overwhelming" and that it made "absolutely no sense" to sell off the site.

He said: "We've had across-the-board support on this, with Scottish Parliament candidates from every single party supporting us. I received e-mails setting out their unequivocal opposition to development of the park, now or in future.

"We have also had similar unequivocal support from the Labour, Green and Conservative councillors.

"We've been told that they'll only build seven houses instead of nine, but it's not exactly a consolation that the gardens will be a little bigger.

"There are absolutely no grounds for selling off this part of the park and nobody (from the council] has yet spelled out their reasons.

"It is public land and should remain in public ownership. If they think there are grounds for development, come and say so and then we'll have a discussion."

Fellow campaigner Fiona Houston added: "It is our park, bought by the city back in 1889 for the people of Edinburgh, and it is not the council's to sell off as a 'surplus property asset' for 'best value'.

"We want to head this idea off permanently. The council needs to hear the message that this outrageous proposal to sell off public parkland has to be reversed. The geographical boundaries of Inverleith Park should be protected by reversing the planning designation that has allowed this to happen. Inverleith Park is public parkland for the long-term health and wellbeing benefit of Edinburgh's residents."

Council documents show that the depot site was re-zoned as "white land" in January 2010, although it is not known why - or for how long - its status has been changed. This change of status means the land can be developed.

The council has estimated that the sale of the former depot to a housing developer could bring in a multi- million-pound receipt, but it has never specified when the sale will take place.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "The administration is minded to agree the motion whilst also asking for the report requested to consider the financial, environmental and operational consequences of both the sale or retention of the current depot."