Council employee of the century

Some Greener Leith members have very long memories. And for as long as our collective memory goes back, we've always been told that it would be impossible to properly surface the stretch of path that links the Water of Leith Walkway with West Bowling Green Street. So we gave up asking ages ago.

For years, this narrow, badly maintained pathway has been a muddy puddle jump after a downpour and source of frustration to regular users of wheeled objects, or delicate footwear, who wish to get around this particular part of the neighbourhood.

Recently, a local resident Jonathan got in touch with us to ask what he could do to try to get the path improved, and he sent us this photo, below, to illustrate how the path had become so weathered as to be almost dangerous in places.

With a modicum of skepticism, we suggested he contact the relatively new Neighbourhood Manager for Leith and the City Centre, Mike Penny, and we asked him to copy us into his email correspondence. 

Remarkably, with no need for focus groups, consultation, external fundraising, or political lobbying, Mr Penny simply wrote back a few days later to inform Jonathan that he's managed to add this short section of path to an existing job some contractors are doing elsewhere for the council and hey presto - the path will be improved. Indeed, we understand it will be bought up to the same standard as the rest of the path network.

Lately, we feel that we've been doing a lot of complaining about things like Biomass plants, and the state of Leith Walk. It is therefore refreshing to be able to offer some unreserved thanks for a council manager, and his team, who respond quickly and make environmental improvements happen. In celebration, here is a small picture of Mr Penny that we found on the internet.

Whilst we haven't traditionally given awards to council officers in the past, it may be time to open up a new category for this year.

If you have had any good experiences with local council staff, let us know in the comments below.