Petition Regarding the 'Caltongate' Development

The purpose of this petition is:

To appeal to Councillors and Officers of the City of Edinburgh Council to refuse and withdraw consent for the demolition of public listed buildings implicated in the 'Caltongate' development so that these buildings may be allowed proper protection in light of their otherwise uncertain future.

To give fair and equal consideration to alternative proposals to reuse and refurbish these public assets such as the proposal of the Old Town Development Trust to convert the Canongate Venture building into a 'Word Bank'.

Background of Petition:

This is perhaps the last opportunity for concerned stakeholders to challenge the hugely controversial 'Caltongate' development and exert influence over the process before the developer takes full legal control. If extensions to the original controversial planning consents are granted at the next meeting of the Development Management Sub-Committee on March 20th 2013 as currently recommended by the Council's planning department then this would enable the developer to:

Maintain the continuing blight to the area should the assets remain 'land banked', leading to the further neglect and degradation of public listed buildings, thereby furthering the case for demolition. (The current developer has given no assurances to the contrary and indeed is bound by even less restrictions than the previous developer).

Renege on any promises to honour UNESCO guidelines in safeguarding public listed buildings from demolition should the proposed new plans for the redevelopment fall through.

Furthermore, the granting of extensions would:

Breach current planning guidelines.

Betray pubic trust in regard to the continuing mismanagement of public assets and the obligated protection of listed buildings since the sale/transfer of these public assets could be robustly challenged for not representing Best Value or due legal process. The arches of Jeffrey St, which are to be “sold by way of a 125 year internal repairing and insuring leasehold basis on a peppercorn rent” to the developer, are one such example. This situation is compounded given that these public assets have been allowed to remain unused, in spite of recognised demand, and have consequently fallen into neglect.

Show favour to private speculative interests above local democracy and heritage considerations which are fundamental to the character of the City.

Set a precedence for the selling of public assets for future speculative developments.

Should the Council grant extensions to the original consents it would be failing in its stated commitments to:

Work with stakeholders to conserve the city's built heritage.

Take firm action to resolve issues surrounding the Council's property services.

Strengthen Neighbourhood Partnerships and further involve local people in decisions on how Council resources are used.

Identify unused council premises to offer on short low-cost lets to small businesses, community groups and other interested parties.

Maintain our city's reputation as the cultural capital of the world by continuing to support and invest in our cultural infrastructure.

If the current developer has confidence with their new plans in retaining the Canongate Venture building for instance then there is no material case for granting Section42 extensions to the previous developer's consents.

Scottish Government advice on achieving best value/community engagement/asset transfer and management requires the Council to undertake robust consideration of alternative strategies before selling of such valuable assets. To date no such public consultation, out with the proposed development, has been pursued.