We Asked - 550 Leithers Answered

Regular Greener Leith readers will know that all summer Greener Leith has been running a consultation project called the Leith Links Ask, that aimed to give as many people as possible a say in the future of Leith Links. A staggering 550 people voted for their three favorite proposals for improving the park and so now we're pleased to be able to share the results:

1. Childrens Play Areas (263 votes)
2. Leith Gardens (246 votes)
3. Pavilion Cafe/Restaurant (244 votes)
4. Wildflowers & Mini Nature Reserves (217 votes)
5. Infrastructure Improvements (173 votes)
6. Football and Rugby Pavilion (166 votes)
   
7. Tennis Centre (146 votes)
8. Golf and Leith Links (85 votes)
9. Lawn Bowls (61 votes)
10. Cricket Facilities (47 votes)

People who voted on-line were also asked to indicate whether they felt each project was a 'high priority,' a 'low priority' or 'shouldn't go ahead' at all. 

It is perhaps no surprise that the children's play facilities topped most people's list as a key area that needs to be improved. Lots of people we spoke to wanted to see the development of a 'magnet' play area like the one on the meadows and when you compare the play facilities in the Meadows and the other main city parks, with what is on offer in Leith Links, it is easy to see why.

Overall, we think most people will be quite surprised to see that there seems to be more public support for non-sporting projects, given that sport is one of the main uses of the park at the moment. The Leith Gardens proposal came a close second to the childrens play area, and support for more wildflowers and mini nature reserves was also quite high. This shows that people do want to see a more diverse park, with areas of more formal planting and more wild areas.

Despite the fact that Bijou, a cafe on the edge of the Links obviously has a dedicated following of loyal customers, we were also interested to see the level of public support for cafe on the Links itself.

Turning to the sports projects, the proposals to develop a modern shared changing facility for rugby and football on the links recieved the most votes overall. However, there were slightly more people who thought that it was a 'High Priority' to bring back tennis to the links.

The only project that really seemed to polarise opinion were the proposals to make more of the parks historic links with the sport of golf. More than a third of people thought that this project should not go ahead at all, with another 39% of people viewing it as a low priority. People we spoke to during the consultation voiced safety concerns over the prospect of a permanent pitch and putt course on the Links.

You can download the full report by clicking here.

What happens next?

These results are really just the starting point in a much longer process that will no doubt  involve feasibility studies, funding strategies and the like. Greener Leith will discuss these results with the key council Neighbourhood Partnership & Parks staff, as well as other local organisations like the community councils. We hope to play an ongiong role in ensuring that the projects with most support are taken forwards. We would particularly like to explore the scope for establishing a non-profit 'Greener Leith' cafe on the links that could act as a focus for the park.

We will also be campaigning to ensure that developers of new housing around the park are forced to pay a contribution to upgrade the park facilities. With Forth Ports likely to get planning permission to take forwards the regeneration of the docks soon, it is likely that Leith Links will come under more and more pressure from the increased population in the area.  Greener Leith has been invited to address the planning committee meeting that will consider the Forth Ports outline planning application, so one of the first places we'll be highlighting the results of the Leith Links Ask could be with the councillors on the city planning committee.

Comments

[Hibs]

Let me get this straight, Greener Leith would like to build a cafe on the Links so people can go and eat cakes instead of being outdoors which is surely the reason for going to the park?

The people who use the park most should be considered. Kids play facilities are already pretty good so putting money into sporting facilities would seem the next reasonable thing to do.

Do-gooders acting on their own agendas to funnel what should be public money into their own hairbrained, egotistical schemes is the last thing Leith Links needs.

[Ally]

Hibs, the project proposals we asked people to vote on weren't even our own proposals. The options people could vote on were proposed by an architect who did indeed speak to park users as part of the process for coming up with plans for improving the park. The architect was paid for by the City of Edinburgh Council, not Greener Leith. You'll note that 550 people voted on these proposals, and more than 90% of those people live in Leith.

You are entitled to your opinion, however, please do not imply that Greener Leith is trying to 'funnel' public money into any scheme that does not have support from the public. Progress to improve Leith Links will be much slower without community groups like Greener Leith working to push things forwards.

Leith Links is big enough to satisfy a whole range of users, and it's clear from the votes cast that there is public support for a more diverse park, that might, in turn, attract a more diverse range of people too. Surely that's a good thing?