New city strategy to turn the map green

The ambitious vision is part of a new "open space strategy", although city council bosses admit that many of the proposals could take up to 15 years to become a reality.

Under the plans, any city centre cemeteries which are underused would be upgraded with benches, garden areas, flower boxes, shrubs or bird boxes to try to make them more attractive to residents.

A series of new public parks would also be created alongside new developments, while – as previously revealed – a host of new allotment sites would be developed and existing parks would be upgraded.

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Areas with a large number of tenements and little access to green space would be targeted, with Dalry and Eastern cemetery among those expected to be in line for a revamp.

Other cemeteries that are no longer primarily used as burial grounds would also be considered – although existing headstones would not be impacted.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "Edinburgh is fortunate to have many wonderful green spaces, and in fact approximately 50 per cent of the city is open space.

"Residents and visitors value and enjoy these open spaces and we want to protect them and enhance them for future generations. It is important that we look at our current use of open spaces and consider how we might use some differently in future to get the best from them."

Much of the funding for proposed new public parks and gardens is set to come from developers through planning agreements with the council.

The council still intends to push for Charlotte Square to be opened up to the public – despite the square's management committee recently ruling out such a move.

Other new parks would include Leith Western Harbour, Leith Docks, an extension of Leith Links, Craigmillar/Greendykes, Newcraighall and Craigpark Quarry.

The strategy has been drawn up after the city council held its first audit of open space in more than 40 years.

It found that the amount of open space – described as all parts of an urban area except private and shared residential gardens and agricultural land – had increased by 7.8 per cent since 1969.

The council and Scottish Government is actively trying to increase participation in pitch sports like football and rugby, although recent figures show the average spend on sport in Edinburgh is just 33 per person compared to 100 in Glasgow.

Football club bosses have welcomed the council's recognition that new floodlit "3G" football pitches are needed – but called for immediate action on the issue.

In 2006, thousands of youngsters marched through the city centre in protest at "third world" sports facilities in the city under the banner of the "Unite The Clubs" forum.

Les Trotter, the campaign's organiser and an official with Hutchison Vale, said that, while the protests helped trigger action by the council initially, more investment was now needed.

"There was a good result at first but it has not been maintained," he said.

"We've not had a winter like this one for a long time but it shows how important new facilities could be. There has been a lot of games lost and a lot of lost revenue – 3G pitches are the way forward because they would allow kids to play any time of the day and as much as they want.

"There have been a lot of promises but we just haven't seen things being done about them."

Council bosses admit that some of the aims may not be completed for 10-15 years, with funding being the major issue.

Mark Turley, the council's director of services for communities, said: "Many actions will not be implemented for several years. This strategy is being prepared at a time of decreasing resources in the public and private sectors.

"For most draft actions the cost of implementation has not yet been estimated and the source of funding has not been identified."

He added that the council can only act itself "at a rate at which resources will allow".

Many of the developments – such as new parks – would be funded by developers through section 75 agreements with the council during the planning process.

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's sports leader, said: "This administration is committed to helping residents of all ages get involved in sport and stay active, and our investment in pitches and pavilions is testament to that.

"Work has begun at Lochend Park on a brand new seven-a-side 3G pitch – this has been some four or five years in the pipeline so we are delighted to be able to deliver this.

"Meanwhile, good progress is being made on the proposed new 3G pitch at Meggetland, and a planning application will be submitted shortly for a new pavilion at Colinton Mains.

"New fit-for-purpose pitches and sports facilities will be integral to helping us fulfil our ambition of making Edinburgh the most physically active city in Europe by 2020."

But Cllr Gordon Buchan, culture and leisure spokesman for the Conservative group on the council, said the strategy did not go far enough.

"The council has a target of encouraging physical activity and in order to achieve that it does have to up its game.

"Suitable all-weather pitch provision would help but it is not all about 3G pitches – we also need facilities that will be used by everyone.

"I welcome people looking at improving facilities but they can't just focus on one batch. I'd hope they would also be also looking at the more traditional facilities and pavilions to improve them."

The draft open space strategy is to be put out to consultation and made available at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/openspacestrategy.

3,000 PRINCES STREET GARDENS

"Open space" has been defined as all parts of an urban area except private and shared residential gardens and agricultural land. It can be council owned or privately owned.

There are currently 3051 hectares of open space in urban Edinburgh – the equivalent of more than 3000 Princes Street Gardens.

The amount of open space in Edinburgh has increased by 7.8 per cent since the last time an audit was compiled in 1969.

88 per cent of houses in Edinburgh are within 400 metres of "significant" open space.

Two in five of the open spaces are described as 'good' quality, with half rated 'fair' and one in 10 rated of 'low quality'.