Border changes

We are receiving notice that there is a planned change of ward boundaries in West Edinburgh. The change of the border from Lanark Road to the Water of Leith in Colinton is an interesting one.

At a blow it divides the historic village of Colinton down the middle, and this at a time when communities are being seen to have more and more value.

The addition of the north-west appendix of Colinton into Clovenstone and Wester Hailes would seem to be to the detriment of all concerned.

Local councillors are in place to represent the residents of their ward, and a cohesive ward is more likely to be better served than is a ward of contrasts.

Politically driven division has a sad record. Let’s not continue the errors, and maintain Wester Hailes/Clovenstone as one cohesive area with identifiable needs, and Colinton Village as another.

Strong local communities need clear and recognisable identities and geographic definition.

This situation exists; why change it?

David Gerrard

Spylaw Park

Edinburgh