Shop protest set for public inquiry

Portobello residents are set to go head-to-head with developers Duddingston House Properties over the proposals for an 80,000sq ft superstore on the edge of the town.

Leaders of protest group Portobello Campaign Against the Superstore (PCATS) have now called on the public to show their support at the inquiry.

Stephen Hawkins, chairman of PCATS, said he hoped as many anti-superstore supporters as possible would turn up.

He said: "We want to raise people’s awareness that it’s their inquiry and people can take part in it just by being there.

"We’re looking forward to getting all the issues aired in the public inquiry. I’m glad we’ve finally got here and we can see the colour of Duddingston House Properties’ eyes when they hear our arguments."

Protesters believe a new supermarket would "rip the heart out of Portobello" and force independent local traders to close.

Other issues to be raised at the inquiry, which is due to last nine days, include the risk of traffic congestion caused by customers at the proposed store on the High Street site of the former ScottishPower HQ.

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh MSP Susan Deacon, who is due to give evidence at the inquiry, said the unity of Portobello residents against the developers was unprecedented.

She said: "In my time as an MSP I’ve never experienced a local issue where there has been such widespread and strong opinion. While people have different reasons for opposing the superstore, their conclusions are the same."

She said her precognition, outlining the points she wanted to make at the inquiry, had been submitted to the reporter.

And she added: "As local MSP I can try to get across some of the concerns that have been raised with me by the local community and also my own view of how real I feel these concerns are.

"I hope that the strength of the arguments and the strength of feeling within the local community will win the day, but that’s for the inquiry Reporter to decide.

"I firmly believe there is a strong case to reject this on planning grounds."

The protesters insist that the inquiry will pass peacefully without any demonstrations - despite police offers to provide a presence outside the inquiry venue.

Mr Hawkins said: "Someone told the police we were planning demonstrations and they contacted the Reporters’ office and offered to come along to make sure things were peaceful.

"It’s ridiculous - a lot of our group are pensioners - what trouble can we cause?"

He added: "We have urged people not to have any kind of demonstration at all - we believe it would be counterproductive and wouldn’t hold any wash with the Reporter."

Witnesses include representatives from the Portobello Community Council, local councillor Lawrence Marshall and expert witnesses in support of the campaigners.

The protesters have raised more than 10,000 to pay the expert witnesses to appear at the inquiry.

Fundraising events included a calendar featuring different shopkeepers posing as characters from films.

The inquiry starts tomorrow at 10am at the British Legion Hall, Baileyfield Road, Portobello.