Open spaces: 'City unlikely to be able to invest what's needed'

IDENTIFYING open spaces is not difficult and neither is deciding how they could best be used. But finding the money to develop and create new facilities poses far more serious challenges.

Edinburgh historically has not invested as heavily in the development of open space and sports facilities as other local authorities.

In 2008 an Audit Scotland report said it spent less per head of population than any other mainland council – 33 for each person compared to the likes of 100 a head in Glasgow.

The last Labour administration came up with a 100 million blueprint to improve and provide better playing fields, pavilions and leisure facilities.

But while improvements have been made to facilities in areas such as East Pilton Park, Fernieside, Bingham Park, Bangholm, Davidson's Mains Park and Castlebrae, the scheme largely fell apart as much of it hinged upon the quick sale of Meadowbank Stadium. This did not happen and an opportunity was lost perhaps for ever.

In its first budget the new Liberal democrat/SNP coalition earmarked 30m for further improvements but the bulk of this cash will be swallowed up by a single project – the refurbishment of the Commonwealth Pool.

What is left will barely scratch the surface of the problem of the lack of modern facilities and lack of playing fields.

But at least the council has begun looking in earnest at how all open spaces – such as under-utilised golf courses – can be best promoted to ensure maximum use.

By the council's own admission its new Open Space strategy – the first for 40 years – might take up to 15 years to deliver and even that could be optimistic. From start to finish it took that amount of time to see the redevelopment of Inch Park for football, cricket and rugby to take place – and the cost involved there was relatively minimal.

With more pressing priorities like protecting frontline services and building new schools the council is unlikely in the short term to be able to invest to anywhere near the level required.

With the London Olympics and the Glasgow Games sucking up billions from the national pot, grassroots sport will continue to suffer a cash shortage backlash for many years to come.

The best hope for rapid progress will probably lie in continuing to enter into partnership agreements with developers to provide community facilities as a condition of planning permission.