Recent Events:
Over 50 people took the opportunity to have their say on the use of the green space situated between Wester Drylaw Place
and Drive (by Drylaw House). The event, organised by the community council's Open Space sub-group in conjunction with
the Pilton Partnership (PP) and Edinburgh Green Belt Trust (EGBT), was held in Drylaw Church on 6 September. Results
are still being analysed, but if you would like further information contact Ian Stewart (PP) on 625 0045 or Esperanza Martin
(EGBT) on 654 1933.
If you'd like to get involved in our Open Space campaign please get in touch - the sub-group meets regularly and new
faces are always welcome.
The Background:
Following a proposal by Muirhouse Housing Association to build on two green field sites in Wester Drylaw last year, the
community council undertook the biggest ever consultation exercise to gauge residents' views on the possible development of
open space in the area. Supported by The Pilton Partnership, every household in Drylaw and Telford was leafletted
and two public exhibition were held in Drylaw Church and Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre. Around 160 responses were received
- and the initial analysis of the consultation was as follows:
Area 1: Open Space at junction of Wester Drylaw Drive/Place
52% No Housing, 40% Yes, housing development acceptable.
Area 2: Open Space at Wester Drylaw Place/Drive if end corner block was demolished:
40% would like to see this area upgraded. 36% are against housing here, and 20% thought housing
would be acceptable.
Area 3: Large area of green space accessed by Wester Drylaw Place roundabout:
49% want to see this area upgraded, and 38% are opposed to housing on this site. Only 12%
thought that a housing development would be acceptable here.
Area 4: Easter Drylaw Gardens
No support for a housing development here (5%). Again, 54% want to see this area upgraded
and 39% are opposed to any housing here.
Area 5: Recreational land behind Easter Drylaw Drive:
An overwhelming 73% of respondents want to see this area upgraded. 20% said no housing here.
Area 6: Land adjacent to Ferryhill School on Wester Drylaw Avenue:
There was a more even split over this area. 54% felt that housing may be acceptable here
(a row of houses built along the line of the exisiting fence) but 30% believe that this area should remain open space.
Area 7: Area behind Wester Drylaw Row
20% of participants thought that housing would be acceptable on this site, but 48% disagree
and say that housing is not acceptable there. 22% would like to see this space upgraded.
All of the areas other, smaller, open spaces were also considered in the consultation. These
were:
A. Land behind the Doocot (basically the car park)
B. Small rectangle off Groathill Road North and Wester Drylaw.
C - E. Small patches of land in Easter Drylaw. Again, with the exception of site A there
was little or no support for housing developments in these areas, but a strong desire to see the areas upgraded. However this
is some support for building on the end of some of the area's corner sites.
These results were examined in more detail at a meeting in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on 6 February, when the working
group decided to go back to some of the more contentious areas and carry out a door to door consultation. The outcome
of this in-depth consultation was discussed at the CC meeting on 22 February, and an Open Space sub-group - which includes
non CC members - was established to take the recommendations forward.
The consultation exercise was very useful as we wanted to be absolutely sure that we could accurately represent
the views of local people on issues as important as the possible loss of open space. It's clear that the vast majority
of Drylaw Telford residents believe that green space is a valuable resource that helps make our area a desirable
place to live, and that once green space is developed it's gone forever. One of the phrases that came up often during
earlier meetings was 'concrete jungle', and the community council now feels we have a valid mandate to oppose
further development in the area. We would like to thank all residents who took part in the process.
