Park protesters pledge to block depot sell-off plan

Nigel Bagshaw says locals have not had a chance to influence the decision.

The council plans to sell the depot in the park to developers for "high quality residential" use as part of a programme of property sell-offs.

The depot, in Arboretum Place, is expected to be the most lucrative of the 15 sites up for sale, raising around 9 million.

But nearby residents say the land should be designated for community use - and that they feel they are not being properly consulted on the sale. They are concerned that a housing development would damage the open aspect of the park and ruin its views over the Old Town skyline. Friends of Inverleith Park will hold a public meeting later this month to discuss the issue.

Member Fiona Houston said: "This proposal for sale came up which we were prepared to keep an open mind about. But if you look at how the park is set up, originally it was the plant nursery, it was a green site and an integrated part of the park. What the community would like is for some long-term public value on there, not short-term gain."

She said members of the group had come up with many suggestions for how the land could be used to benefit the public. "There's no public toilets or cafe in the park. We'd like to see some family facilities, maybe a cafe, maybe some workshop or arts space, or a community greenhouse. The possibilities with a bit of imagination are endless and we're well aware that it would have to wipe its face money-wise," she said.

The council intends to apply for planning consent in principle for the site to be developed, and a spokeswoman said it had carried out thorough consultation on the change, including a public exhibition at Inverleith Depot in September.

The spokeswoman said: "As with all potential surplus buildings or land, the council is obliged to look at the redevelopment potential, and to consider how to obtain best value for the city. That notwithstanding, we will obviously listen closely to any local suggestions."

However, chairman of Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council Nigel Bagshaw said members did not feel they had a realistic opportunity to influence the decision: "There seems to a juggernaut on its way and we feel that there's not going to be much genuine consultation. There's a big push to get this sold to raise the money but I haven't talked to anybody local who says 'Yes, I want that part of the park developed for housing'.

"The council's made a lot of talk in recent years about discussing planning applications with community groups, but unless you've got a genuine ability to change the outcome, it's not consultation.

"I don't think there's any genuine desire to take other people's views into account at all. But we will fight vociferously to make sure it's put to some kind of community use."

Friends of Inverleith Park will hold a public meeting to discuss the issue at St Stephen's Comely Bank Church on November 29. The organisation's AGM starts at 7.30pm, with the public meeting at 8pm.