New rules 'will put capital's green spaces under threat'

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New rules 'will put capital's green spaces under threat'

Archiseek / UK / Scotland / News / 2007 / May 3

Some of Edinburgh's most famous parks are set to lose their traditional protected status - prompting fears that key green spaces could face development. Lawyers acting on behalf of Edinburgh City Council are preparing new legislation which would scrap strict rules preventing new buildings in Princes Street Gardens, the Meadows, Calton Hill, Bruntsfield Links and Leith Links. Officials insist the move is required because the current law has delayed plans to replace the Ross Bandstand for several years. But conservationists fear the changes will "open the floodgates" to development on the sites and pave the way for parts of the parks to be either sold off or built over. One senior council source warned the new legislation could potentially allow any cash-strapped future administration to "free up bits and pieces of land in order to raise a bit of money to maintain them [the parks]".

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