Survey from Jim Eadie MSP

Posted on April 6, 2012 by andrew0r

Many of you will have received a letter from Jim Eadie MSP today. Jim is our local MSP (for the Edinburgh Southern constituency). He writes asking people what their views are about the proposed Craighouse development, and whether they feel they have enough information to make a decision.

We suggest that you do send in a response to Jim Eadie, either via the postal survey form he sends, or via email (Jim.Eadie.MSP@scottish.parliament.uk). This will really help Jim

In this photo are Councillor Paul Godzik, Councillor and MSP Alison Johnstone, and Jim Eadie MSP

to decide what local opinion is on the proposals. The planning process at Craighouse could involve the local planning committee (made up of councillors elected in May), a full council vote (we think this unlikely), and Scottish Ministers. So it is important that the full range of politicians understand local feelings.

Continue reading →

Posted in Consultation | 4 Comments

Exhibitions over

Posted on April 2, 2012 by rosyb

Exhibitions are now over. We will be bringing you a post about the differences between Sept and March exhibs as soon as we can – and we will try and produce a new google map also if we can. There will be more articles and information coming soon so keep watching the website.

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Last of the second set of exhibitions today

Posted on March 31, 2012 by andrew0r

The new exhibitions are on today at Old Craig:

Saturday 31st March – 10am-4pm
Old Craig, Craighouse Campus, Craighouse Road, Edinburgh EH10 5LG

You can go along and see how much they have increased the new-build in their new plans. Look out for the orchard development being higher and larger, the courtyard development has grown to be massive, there is much more new-build on woodland, and more new-build around the existing listed buildings. They also have some new figures for maintenance, some of which they claim are the historic figures, but which are massively larger than the historic figures given to us under freedom of information requests.

Continue reading →

Posted in Consultation, Mountgrange, Planning process | 3 Comments

Scotsman Releases Pictures of Excessive New-Build

Posted on March 28, 2012 by rosyb

SCOTSMAN ARTICLE WITH PICTURES OF PROPOSALS: CLICK HERE

(NB please remember exhib dates LINK for dates and locations)

Big article in Scotsman today. What can we say? It looks absolutely appalling. Anyone who can justify this level of newbuild all over one of the most beautiful sites in Edinburgh and the most beautiful parts of the site can have no love of this spectacular green site or the listed buildings. Neither can they have respect for the multitude of protections and designations that are being flouted.

Far from listening to the community, the level of new-build has risen. Large blocks around the listed buildings. The orchard has 2 lines of houses and roads all across it. With poor Old Craig completely swamped by an absolutely massive “courtyard” development (apparently, according to William Gray Muir, “to let it breathe”). Continue reading →

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Exhibition Dates Reminder

Posted on March 27, 2012 by rosyb

Baccha elongata a particularly exciting variety of hoverfly

A reminder post about the exhibitions and an excuse to post this superb photograph of a particularly exciting variety of hoverfly. We were sent this by an insect expert who took it on the site. Of course, the site is a haven for wildlife with a series of linked up varied habitats that makes it ideal for many species – common and rare – that can be easily viewed on the site. This spring the woods have been alive with woodpeckers and the evenings are alive with the sounds of owls. We have been sent in some lovely photos from members so we will be putting together a wildlife post over the coming weeks. Right – back to business. Continue reading →

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Resolution from Morningside Community Council

Posted on March 24, 2012 by friendsofcraighouse

At the last (absolutely packed) meeting of the Morningside Community Council (MCC), a resolution was passed by overwhelming majority. It stated:

“If the planning application for the Craighouse site proposes new development on areas which are designated in the Edinburgh City Local Plan as Open Space and/or Areas of Great Landscape Value, we will submit an objection.”

The entire site is designated in the Edinburgh City Local Plan as Open Space and/or Area of Great Landscape value, and therefore any new-build on the site is contrary to the Local Plan. This was made clear by planning officials in Edinburgh Council in their recent  report to the Development Management Sub-Committee (Report by the Head of Planning on forthcoming application by Craighouse Ltd and Napier University). Continue reading →

Posted in Community groups, Consultation, Planning process | 7 Comments

Article and interview with local residents

Posted on March 19, 2012 by friendsofcraighouse

Article and interview with local residents

Boyana Atanasova of EdinburghNapierNews has written an article today and produced an audio interview with local residents about the Craighouse site and our campaign. Thank you Boyana for this excellent work!

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Second Round of Proposal Presentations

Posted on March 18, 2012 by friendsofcraighouse

The Craighouse Partnership have a second round of proposal presentations scheduled for 29th-31st March (Thursday-Saturday). This is right after the second Community Liaison Forum the day before (so not much chance of influencing the proposals, I’m afraid).

  • Thursday 29 March 2-8pm. Eric Liddell Centre (we were told Morningside Library in the first Community Liaison Forum, but the Evening News advert and the Craighouse Partnership website say Eric Liddell Centre, so be careful to go to the right place!)
  • Friday 30 March. 2-8pm. Boroughmuir RFC, Meggetland Sports Pavilion
  • Saturday 31 March. 10-4pm Old Craig

If you can let interested people know, that would be great, because there is a limited amount of time available to notify people. From indications at the Community Liaison Forum, we expect there will be a little more detail on the styles of architecture, but little change to the areas of new-build.

These dates and locations have now been added to their website.

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Rosy’s opinion piece published in the Edinburgh Reporter

Posted on March 17, 2012 by friendsofcraighouse

Rosy’s opinion piece published in the Edinburgh Reporter

The Edinburgh Reporter, a great local website, has published an opinion piece by Rosy. She talks about the much-loved areas of the site that people don’t want to lose and the risks of land value speculation.

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Frog March

Posted on March 13, 2012 by rosyb

Craighouse is a wonderful habitat for wildlife and an important wildlife corridor. At this time of year you need to be very careful walking at night due to the multitudes of frogs making their way to their ancentral pond on the other side of the site. They cover quite some distance to get there and are apparently fearless at this time of year in the face of local walkers, bikes and dogs. It is very special to be able to be so close to nature in the city and one of the uplifting and unique aspects of this site – and why urban green spaces are so very important and need to be protected. Of course most of Craighouse is a local nature conservation site in addition to the Local Nature Reserve on the hill. It is so sad that developers plan to build all over the protected green areas, and reduce this habitat further for local wildlife. Their plans for new roads and road moves and excessive new-build will have a huge and detrimental impact in this regard as well as being contrary to the Local Plan.

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