End of an era as park craft centre closes

A CRAFT centre based in Inverleith Park is to close after 13 years as the city council prepares to sell its site.

Organisers of the Four Winds Inspiration Centre say they have no animosity towards the council for the sell-off, but are sad that it has ushered in the end of an era.

The centre, which used to run the annual Treefest, has also been hit by the economic downturn.

There has been a drop in the number of people signing up for its classes, which include subjects such as willow weaving, stone carving, leather work, ceramics and mosaic.

The Treefest, which used to subsidise the cost of lessons, was cancelled this year after the gradual loss of key sponsors.

Project director Carole Fraser said the centre's lease had been terminated as of the end of this year.

She said: "It's really very emotional. I want to say thank you to the council for all their wonderful support. Without their help we wouldn't have been able to do it. And thanks to everybody who's part of it and who's come to our classes, it's been a completely magical era."

The centre is based at the council depot in the park, which is one of 15 sites earmarked for sale in a bid to raise millions of pounds for public projects.

The depot sale is expected to be the most lucrative of the sales, bringing in more than 9 million for council coffers. The authority hopes to sell it to a developer for a "high quality residential" scheme. The money from the sale will be paid into a new investment fund to support council projects such as street or building improvements.

Inverleith councillor, Iain Whyte, said: "I think there's a lot of concern about selling off land within the park in any case and obviously the Four Winds Centre has been popular with residents local to the park and more widely across Edinburgh, so I hope they will look at maybe finding other places that they can carry on this service."

Ms Fraser said she hoped that after the closure the centre's tutors and craft materials could still be used to help at charity events.

She added: "We've got until the end of the year to finish our season so we've still got classes and places available and I'd love it if people could book in –it's your last chance to come to these beautiful surroundings.

"I will try and keep the classes going but there's not the income, especially with the economic climate the way it is it's going to get harder and harder."

For details on classes at the centre see www.fourwindsedinburgh.org.uk or call 0131-332 2229.