Rugby club growth plan is a ‘betrayal’

As someone who has lived in Raeburn Place for 37 years, I believe he is mistaken.

This project is designed to cater for 5,000 spectators (2,500 seated). It is to be supported by the building of retail space equivalent to nearly five times the area of the local Scotmid store and “hospitality suites” larger than those of the Balmoral Hotel.

All this, to be built on the sports field in the equivalent of a three-storey building fronting Comely Bank Road, is inappropriate and wholly misconceived.

More than 2,500 signatures have been given by potential objectors and many independent shopkeepers in Raeburn Place are displaying posters opposing the scheme. The planning application will be vigorously resisted.

The Accies have been a much loved and respected part of Stockbridge since the 19th century, when land was passed from Inverleith Estate to Grange and Academicals Trust to be used exclusively for rugby, cricket and other sports “in perpetuity”.

This bullying application for the gross over-development of their part of the site is a betrayal. Everyone wants club and school rugby, cricket and hockey to continue at Raeburn Place and the suggestion that, if this application were to fail, the field could be developed for housing is silly scaremongering.

The Accies’ benefactors could establish an endowment fund for the club and support the rebuilding of their pavilion, so carelessly destroyed a few years ago: commercial development on the playing field and obstruction of the public view to Inverleith Park from Comely Bank Road should be unacceptable.

If the club cannot continue without this development, then it should withdraw and allow others to maintain the amateur sporting tradition at Raeburn Place.

There must be many suitable locations for the sort of commercial, quasi-professional rugby operation which the Accies wish to develop, but Raeburn Place is not one of them.

The proposed development is on recreational open space within the conservation area and contravenes the Local Plan on numerous counts. As such this application should be rejected.

James Simpson OBE FRIAS

Raeburn Place

Edinburgh

I agree with many of the statements made by rugby players regarding Edinburgh Accies plans, however I would make the following points.

Accies do, indeed, need new facilities to carry out the good work they provide in the community but there is plenty of space within the existing boundary walls for them to build a new clubhouse, changing rooms and museum which need not encroach on the two pitches.

Given the number of shops in Stockbridge, the last thing Raeburn Place needs is more operating as charity outlets. I was at Raeburn Place last Saturday when Accies hosted Ayr RFC, currently the top club in Scotland. There were no more than 200 spectators. So there is certainly no need for a new complex seating more than 2,000.

Keith Walker

Gylemuir Road

Edinburgh

I must admit to being taken aback by the supporters of Save our Stockbridge campaign.

While the pain suffered by high street retailers since 2008 is not in question, recent evidence suggests the sales decline was at first steep but has now plateaued.

Throughout this period Stockbridge has remained a relatively vibrant “high street” trading environment.

While a number of shops were vacated last year, it is now difficult to find “the empty units” the Save Our Stockbridge campaign describes.

It is in this context that I remain puzzled by the opposition to a development which represents a real “vote of confidence” in Stockbridge as a thriving community. I believe increased retail space is both warranted and desirable.

I find equally puzzling objections to the creation of a state-of-the-art sports facility in the heart of the community. The McLeish report into Scottish football found poor facilities act as a disincentive to youth participation. Sport Scotland has also produced studies to this effect. Accies have a track record of encouraging participation by young people in sport (not just rugby), an offering which will be greatly enhanced by the development.

The developers have also gone to lengths to retain the treeline, widen the pedestrian area (pavement café anyone?) and reduce the height of the building, which will still remain lower than the towering tenements opposite.

So I do hope retailers will see this as an opportunity for an expanded high street offering which will further enhance Stockbridge as a desirable city shopping destination.

Ken Macrae

Comely Bank Road

Edinburgh