Inverleith Park campaigners hit out at city council over lack of consultation

Campaigners have criticised a lack of consultation by the city council over the development of part of Inverleith Park.

A depot at the park is to be sold to a developer to create a "high quality" residential scheme as part of the council's 15 million property sell-off.

But the Evening News revealed last week that a campaign has been set up against the plan - with protesters indicating they are willing to take the issue to the courts because of their belief that it is "common good land".

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Nigel Bagshaw, who sits on the board of Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council, said: "Despite commitments made over many years to engage meaningfully with communities, no consultation on the matter was undertaken until after the decision to sell the site had been taken and the general development plans had been drawn up.

"If the council had consulted properly, it would have found that the majority of people want the park as a whole to be retained for public use for the common good of the community.

"It would have heard the alternative uses people have in mind - including cafe and toilet facilities, allotments, a community orchard and rented small business units - and could have come up with a self-sustaining concept enjoying general support."