Edinburgh Sucks! | Who got the bung for this one?

Planning Dept.

Who got the bung for this one?

By The Basa ⋅ April 25, 2005 ⋅

The city planning department is again riding roughshod over hundreds of objections from locals and heritage groups who are trying to keep the last allotments in the city center. Obviously the bung has gone in and a private developer, Eastbay Homes, have manged to get their hands on this prime real estate.

Today critics called on the council’s planning committee to reject the scheme and preserve the green space in the shadow of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. David McDonald, director of heritage group the Cockburn Association, said: “Spring Gardens is an oasis for local gardeners and should be returned to its use as allotments. The council must stand its ground on this issue.

“Crofting communities have the right to buy out their land in Scotland and perhaps new legislation is needed to protect garden allotment users from the pressures of housing development. There may well be a case for the parliament to look at using public funds to buy out private allotments in order to protect historic allotments in city centres.”

It seems as though widespread objections doesn’t matter in the city any more. Let’s see how deep the bungs go when our elected representatives on the planning commitee vote.

It should be noted that data provided by City of Edinburgh Council showed that over one third of approvals for building on the Green Belt were for applications that were contrary to the development plan - (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/development/rgbps-14.asp)- is this because the bung system is working so well?

More Info: Flats set to spring up on last allotments in the city centre