Forth Energy send Leith Biomass plan up in smoke. Finally.

The first blog post we wrote about the Forth Energy power plant plan on Leith Docks was in January 2010.

Since then, there have been nearly sixty more blog posts, five consultation responses, protests, stalls, public meetings and petitions.

After all this, and some two years later, it has come as a welcome surprise to learn that Forth Energy have finally seens sense and abandoned their proposed Leith Biomass plan. 

You can read the full press statement that was released by the firm here.

Now we can only speculate at the real reasons behind the company's decision to abandon the project. 

• Was it because it was the most unpopular project in Edinburgh's planning history?
• Was it because they realised they wouldn't be able to overcome the objections from the statutory consultees like Scottish Natural Heritage?
• Was it because the subsidies are getting pulled left right and centre?
• Did they blink first in the back room negotiations between themselves, Scottish Enterprise and the City of Edinburgh Council over the future of the site?
• Are they about to announce a big wind turbine manufacturing deal on the docks which is more lucrative?
• Or is it just a clever move from a firm used to playing 'subsidy tetris' with its land holdings?

The reality is, it's probably a little bit of all those things. 

Over the months that we've been following, and campaigning against, this proposal, it's been amazing to see civic Leith join forces in opposition against the plan. 

The numbers of local people, especially in the No Leith Biomass campaign group, who have put in hours and hours of time to digest tedious, and very technical, planning documents has been remarkable.

Not to mention the effort that went into producing leaflets, manning stalls, protests, lobbying, producing mock up images, and so on.

The politicians who backed residents also deserve a thanks. It was heartening to see that politicians from across the political spectrum could work together to oppose the plans.

Indeed we've lost track of the number of Holyrood motions that have been lodged, and parliamentary questions that have been asked, urging the Scottish Government to reject the project.

There is even another Holyrood motion that has been lodged today, by the Greens.

Locals also received support from city-wide and national organisations too, like Friends of the Earth and Biofuelwatch. The Cockburn Association put in a particularly well worded objection to the proposal.

All of the people involved will be glad to see their hard work has paid off. And indeed a celebratory drink is certainly in order.

And it would appear that some people have learned so much about the real environmental impact of the Forth Energy proposals that they may well continue to support campaigners in Rosyth, Dundee and Grangemouth where the firms big biomass plans are still very much alive.

Just as importantly, many local businesses in Leith who depend on tourism and attracting visitors from elsewhere in the city will be hugely relieved that one cloud on their horizon has been removed. 

However, it's clear that Forth Ports might come back with a new plan. 

If they do, we hope they'll have listened to some of the things we said about How Forth Energy Could Win Friends and Influence Leithers.

Greener Leith has always said that if they work with local residents to support the development of a really decentralised, community owned, low carbon district heating network, then they might get somewhere. 

And you might say it'll never happen in Leith. But the council is already moving ahead and installing a shared heating system in Cables Wynd House this year at a cost of more than £2million.

This will lower the heating bills, and the carbon footprint, of 200 households in Leith.

Could that development be the first in a series of 'heat islands' that might one day form the basis of a genuinely decentralised heating network in Leith? 

Only time will tell. 

What they said: 

Council pays city fly-posting companies

Here's an interesting poster seen on Easter Road.

As the Council's poster says, "appearance matters." As anyone who has even partially signed up to the "broken windows theory" of neighbourhood management will tell you, fly posting is said to increase people's fear of crime.

Question is, does a tatty flyposter from the council on an abandoned shop, not somewhat undermine the message? Is it not a branding fail? Is it really best practice to be funding flyposting firms?

Once upon a time, local authorities were hell bent in putting flyposting firms and the businesses who funded them out of business. In Camden they even took out an ASBO against a flyposting company boss. But legally, it proved too tricky.

So, eventually, local authorities adopted a different tack and did deals with the same firms. The deal works just like the one you see in this photo.

The council 'authorises sites' and the company that manages the 'authorised' sites gets to put up their adverts in return for 'managing' the site. This therefore reduces the cost to the council of removing the flyposters when they get ugly. In theory.

Of course, this still means that people who live near the 'authorised' sites have to live with the posters whether they want them or not.

And in a latest twist, it seems the council and the Scottish Government has now gone from trying to legislate against flyposting companies, through tolerating them on the basis that it cuts the costs of managing them, to paying them for their cheap 'advertising' services.

See also the No Knives Better Lives fail on Great Junction Street.

Anyway, if you think this poster looks rubbish, "why don't you report it?"

The phone numbers are on the poster.

Solar roof plans on The Halls scunnered by subsidy uncertainty

Last year, The Edinburgh Community Energy Co-op, of which Greener Leith is a corporate member, were awarded money from the Climate Challenge Fund to investigate the scope for installing community owned solar schemes in Leith. 

A few weeks ago they held an update meeting, and the sad news is that a model that once looked promising has been somewhat scunnered by uncertainty over the level of subsidy that the Westminster government is likely to provide solar energy schemes in the future. 

Here's the presentation that Stuart Hay gave to update people on the progress they've made investigating the business case for installing solar panels on the nice big south facing roof of the South Leith Parish Church halls. 

Leith Community Energy Project Update

More information on the meeting on the co-op blog.

The project has now refocussed on promoting energy efficiency in the area and have organised four drop in sessions in local libraries in the coming weeks. More details here: 

Edinburgh Community Energy Co-op Energy Efficiency Poster

Locals dismayed as Constitution Street B&B refusal appealed

Those who objected to proposals to convert 57 Constitution Street into a B&B, including the members of Leith Links Residents Association and Leith Links Community Council, will be dismayed to learn that the the decision to refuse planning permission for the change of use by local councillors has been appealed by the owners.

Here you can see the full text of the appeal document below.

57 Constitution Street - Appeal Form and Grounds

Councillors objected to the proposals mainly on the basis that they would be detrimental to the amenity of local residents. However, in the appeal documents its clear that the agents acting on behalf of the developers are vigourously opposing those grounds for refusal.

All the other documents relating to the appeal can be found on the Scottish Government's website here.

The way that Scottish Government appeals processes work is a somewhat arcane field to most mere mortals, although we understand that Cllr Rob Munn has been invited to get involved.

All are welcome to attend a meeting on Wednesday 15th of February at 7.30pm in the Constitution Bar to discuss whether locals can bring any further influence to bear on the Scottish Government at this stage.

Leith gift shop Flux launches ethical Valentine's Day range

One of Leith's most loved local shops, Flux, have got in touch with Greener Leith to tell us about their new range of ethical Valentine's Day gifts. 

It's great to see local independent businesses working together to provide ethical and environmentally friendly gift packages, the like of which you won't see in any chain store. 

Flux say they: "stock a wide range of quirky, handmade, eco-friendly and ethically-sourced gifts for people who care about where the things they buy come from as much as who they are buying for."

They've put together three Valentines Day packages:

Absinthe Makes The Heart Go Stronger - £25

Give your lover a warm fuzzy glow with fair trade rosebud fairy lights, organic absinthe Venetian masks by East Lothian chocolatier The Chocolate Tree and a single fair trade red rose.

You and me up the Chocolate Tree - £45

Pretty fair trade silver flower pendant by Earthworks with a heart-shaped origami gift box from organic chocolatier The Chocolate Tree and a single fair trade red rose

Lux Flux - £250

An all-out luxurious package with a gorgeous heart-shaped white gold pendant by ethical jeweller Fifi Bijou, organic Venetian mask gift box by The Chocolate Tree and a dozen fair trade red roses.

To get hold of any of these packages you'll need to move quick, as you need to order them in advance for collection from the shop. They also do bespoke packages if you'd like something a bit different for your better half.

You can get in touch with Flux via their website: www.get2flux.co.uk

This is a sponsored post. You can find out more about advertising on the Greener Leith blog and our policies on sponsored posts by clicking here.

Zero Waste Podcast 11: Buy Less, Repair and Re-skill

Welcome to our penultimate Zero Waste Podcast. We drop in on a REmade Edinburgh computer and textile repair and re-skill session and take a sneak peek into Leith's brand new 'Sewing Bee Cafe', it opens later this month:   

If you need to repair your trousers or your laptop you're in luck! REmade Edinburgh run free drop in sessions at the South Bridge Resource Centre every Friday morning. Here's a laptop health check in action:

Find out more on the REmade Edinburgh website, on facebook or follow on twitter, @REmadeEdinburgh. REmade are looking for textile and tool donations too, so do get in touch.

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The Sewing Bee Cafe

The Sewing Bee Cafe is half way down Leith Walk, next to the Brass Monkey. You can follow the cafe on facebook. Look out for the new window display coming soon for the Leith Shop Idol competition:

Cafe owner Kal Ali (below) was inspired to start the Sewing Bee Cafe after working with the Warm Hearts Quilting Group. We visited the group for Zero Waste Podcast 6: Waste Action in Action.

 

For every bag of waste we throw out, 70 bags of waste are produced just to make the things we've thrown away! Read more on the issues surrounding our consumer culture in 'Zero Waste Podcast 10: But Less, Borrow Instead'.

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Edinburgh, we don't need to keep consuming, lets get mending!

It's fun, it's funky.... it's time to mend our ways.

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If you have iTunes installed on your computer you can subscribe to our audio as a podcast by clicking here.

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The Zero Waste Podcast series is produced by Emily Dodd for Greener Leith and funded by City of Edinburgh Council Waste Action Grants, Vegware and Changeworks. 

The theme tune for the podcast was brought to you by Waste Action Grant funded project, Trash Arts.

EVENT: Leith Links Children's Orchard volunteer day

As this photo shows it was way back in the spring of 2010 when we established the Leith Links Children's Orchard, with the help of loads of local school kids.

This summer we got our first fruit from the orchard, with some trees doing really well.  

Each year, we try to organise at least one event to help keep the orchard well maintained. This year we've set-up something that should be pretty fun for all involved.

Our 2012 workday will provide a great opportunity to get fit, do good for your 'hood, and learn a new skill all in a couple of hours on the 11th of February.

There are three ways you can help out. You're welcome to pick and choose which parts you get involved in - but please do consider coming down and pitching in. 

The three things that we've got planned are: The Leith Good Gym Pilot, Tree pruning, and Litter Picking.

Everything will start at 10am on the 11th of February.

Taking part in the organised jog is by no means obligitory... 

The Leith Good Gym

We're working with two well kent Leithers - personal fitness trainer and Leith's own healthy living guru - Tracy Griffen - and Leith FM DJ, jogger and local blogger Leah Lockhart - to set up a regular Leith Good Gym.

What's a "Good Gym?" you may well ask - We've been inspired by the original Good Gym Project in London, and we're trying to figure out whether something similar would work in Leith.

This will be the first pilot event in Leith - so if are a regular runner in Leith, or if you've recently cancelled your gym subscription and are looking for something new - join us for the first Leith Good Gym. The meet-up is at 10am outside the Leith Franklin Cricket Club, club house on the links.  

Tracy and Leah then plan to take you on a bit of a jog - with the aim of arriving at the Leith Links Childen's Orchard in order to get stuck into one or both of the following...

Fruit Tree Pruning with the RBGE Edible Gardening Project

We're also delighted to be able to work with the Royal Botanic Gardens Edible Gardening project to offer people a chance to learn the skills of pruning fruit trees properly. 

There's space for a maximum of 20 people on this free course, led by Leith resident and Botanics professional gardener Ben Dell.

So, if you want to book a place please do get in touch as soon as possible. We've specifically reserved 10 places for people who live in postcode areas EH5-EH7 - Leith and round about. So, don't be shy.

For more information on this free training event and how to book a place click here. 

Childrens Orchard litter pick, bulb plant, and tree moving.

Council officers will be there on the day too, and they're going to bring all the kit we need to do a proper clean-up of the area. After all the winter gales - it seems that every plastic bag in Leith has ended up in the orchard.

Also, we need to move a handful of the trees we planted, to make way for a new cycle path that will be built through part of the orchard. Work is due to start on the ramp in a matter of weeks after the clean-up, so we need to save the trees.

Lastly, if we're lucky the council may have some bulbs left over that we can plant in the orchard to give it a bit of spring colour.

If we have enough people we'll also aim to do a litter pick of more than just the Children's Orchard itself.

Free Soup!

Assuming the catering gods look upon us favourably there will also be free soup from the marvelous cafe at Out of the Blue, for the first 20 people who manage to last until lunchtime. 

What you need to bring:

Please bring with you footwear appropriate to the task. If you're running, obviously some trainers you don't mind getting dirty. If you're not running something more robust might be a good idea.

As this is Scotland in February, you should probably bring with you a waterproof jacket.

If you are less than 18 years old, you are more than welcome, but you should bring an adult who you think is willing to take responsibility for you. 

In the unlikley event we get more than 20 folk then you might want to bring enough cash to supplement the free food.  

Any Questions?

If you've got any questions then please ask them in the comments below, or if they are questions that you'd rather not ask in public, please do click here to send us an email.

Our views on the Edinburgh Local Development Plan consultation

There once was a time when the plan for the regeneration of Leith Docks was illustrated with this picture. Well, it's looking increasingly unlikely that this plan will ever come to fruition. At the moment, Scottish Enterprise are busy spending £500,000 of tax payers money on a new masterplan for Leith Docks, which is almost entirely owned by Forth Ports.

Simultaneously, the council is in the process of preparing a new Local Development Plan for the whole city.

This plan is important because it will set out the key land uses, and principles that will guide development over a number of years.

Both these processes have huge long term implications for Leith.

Recently, the consultation period on the plan's "Main Issues Report," came to and end. Greener Leith put in a submission. Here are some of the things we call on the council to do: 

• Protect the greenbelt whilst there is still plenty of 'brownfield' area left within the city.
• Adopt a 'minimum density' policy within the city to avoid sprawl and promote sustainable housing.
• Explicitly support national and local Government targets on promoting active travel.
• Adopt a favourable approach to community owned renewable energy schemes.  
• Preserve agricultural land close to the city on the basis that we might need it in the future if oil becomes significantly more expensive.
• Promote policies which favour the city centre as the best location for both office and retail developments.
• Prevent developers from providing their quota of affordable housing 'off-site,' as we think the current policy works and helps to produce mixed income communities.
• Take a more robust approach to conserving our built and natural heritage.
• Explicitly acknowledge and seek to expand active travel networks set out in the council's Active Travel plan. 

When it comes to Leith more specifically, the report asked people to choose between two options. We chose, like some other community groups, to reject both options as too extreme and dogmatic. Instead we called for a flexible approach to the regeneration of the docks that recognises:  

• Significantly increasing the amount of retail space around Ocean Terminal without building large numbers of new homes puts the vitality of Leith's existing town centres around Great Junctions Street and Leith Walk at risk. 
• Not all green industries are the same and not all industries which claim to be "green," actually are. Whilst we would welcome green jobs on the docks this must not be to the detriment of the existing inhabitants and local economy and therefore we suggest some factors the future plan should consider.
• Zoning large swathes of brownfield land soley for industrial use should be avoided as there is no guarantee that the hoped for manufacturing industries will in fact materialise. Depending on what happens to the economy, and indeed government subsidies for renewable energy, it may transpire that more jobs could be created over the lifetime of the next plan by doing something else. 
• There is still less green space per person in Leith than anywhere else in the city. New parks and allotments need to be created in the area.
• There are a number of current active planning applications that will see existing small light industrial premises converted into commercial offices and housing. We believe the future plan should aim to preserve the amount of light industrial capacity of the area in order to promote a diverse and resilient local economy.  

 You can find our full consultation response here, but you might also need to read it in conjuction with the Main Issues Report document to make sense of it.