The design proposals for the Leith Links Seaward Extension (LLSE - OS7) have been released for consultation by the City of Edinburgh Council this week and Greener Leith is encouraging everyone to have a look and make a comment. You'll be pleased to know that it is a relatively small file to download (1.7MB), and that is not particularly lengthy or technical.

To help with this we thought we should explain some more about the proposals. First of all, we should make it clear that this is a 'Design Study', which aims to set out how the proposed Leith Links Seaward Extension (OS7) will be structured and how it will relate to other land uses. More detailed landscape designs will follow for different parts of the extension as it is implemented. It is estimated this could take as long as 20-30 years to complete. 

The Design Study is not a planning application, nor is it supplementary planning guidance. As we understand things, this means that it will not be legally binding on anyone. However, it will inform the development of the seaward extension, and on this basis it is worth commenting on. 

We should also point out that there are 'unofficial' alternative proposals for extending Leith Links, although these are currently unavailable on-line. These alternative proposals suggest extending Leith Links into the area currently earmarked for light industrial/commercial uses between the Eastern boundary of the LLSE OS7 proposal and the Seafield sewerage works further east.

The alternative proposals are officially outwith the scope of this consultation, as they would require a considerable change to the recently adopted Edinburgh City Local Plan. We understand from the planning officers involved that there is now little scope to modify the local plan (and consequently the current Leith Links Extension OS7) until it is next up for consideration. Work to develop the next Edinburgh City Local Plan will not begin until 2012 at the earliest.

This said, Greener Leith has already voiced concerns that the Leith Docks Outline Planning Applciation does not contain a suitable amount of new Green Space, particularly with regard to sports facilities. If the planning committee do not act to remedy this deficit, then Greener Leith hopes that the Scottish Government will 'call in' the Leith Docks Outline Planning Application for a rethink.

If you're finding it hard work understand the planning process and how it relates to the Leith Links Seaward Extension proposals (we certainly feel like we're on a steep learning curve!) then you can attend a public meeting scheduled for Tuesday the 13th of May, at St Mary's Primary School, Links Gardens between 7pm and 8pm. Planning Officers will be there to answer any questions about the LLSE-OS7 design study proposals.

If you can't make this meeting, you can submit your comments, in writing, to:

Noami Sandilands, City Development, G:1, 4, East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG by 9th June 2008. Alternatively you can email naomi.sandilands@edinburgh.gov.uk

Greener Leith will submit the response below to the Design Study consultation. If you aggree with us, you are welcome to use these points as an inspiration for your own letter.

1. Greener Leith is concerned that the OS7 Leith Links Seaward Extension, when considered in combination with other existing and proposed green spaces in the area, does not provide enough publicly accessible, free sports facilities. Greater thought needs to be put into this in order to meet the likely demand. Will one extra football pitch be sufficient to cope with demand from all the new residential development in Leith Docks?

2. Greener Leith questions whether more thought to the distribution of land uses may be required. Is it more appropriate to move the area designated for sports further away from the coast, and closer to the existing links, using the space currently allocated for 'community facilites and civic space,' and/or 'passive recreation and community education.' This would ensure that the sports areas are at least sheltered somewhat from the sea winds, by the orchard, allotments and surrounding buildings. In turn, this would allow space for more informal uses closer to the coast, where a larger number of people may wish to gather on days when the weather is conducive to sunbathing, and taking in the view across the Forth. Careful landscaping may be required to mitigate against the potential for the whole extension to turn into a 'wind tunnel' when the wind is from the North.

3. Greener Leith is concerned that the proposed land uses adjacent to the Seaward Extension proposals often present 'passive' frontages on the eastern edge. In addition, there is little natural surveillance from the eastern side of the extension - a greater proportion of residential land uses on both sides of the extension would provide this. As things stand, the pathways through the proposed new allotment sites, and most of the eastern edge of the new park have the potential to become frightening places in the evening. If the allotments were sited along this eastern edge, with no publc pathway through them, this may help to 'design out' potential anti-social behavior.  

4. Greener Leith is disappointed that the LLSE OS7 extension proposals have such a negative impact on the existing Leith Links allotment site. This site is much valued by the plot holders, and the association has done a good job in recent years to reach out and work with the wider community in Leith. Furthermore, this site has been in existence for many years. It is unfortunate that greater weight was not placed on preserving this site, when the initial proposals for a Leith Links extension were first mooted. It is also unfortunate that there is potential for some allotment holders to have to move not once, but twice as this project develops.

5. Greener Leith is pleased that the number of allotment plots is set to increase, and that the proposals give a commitment to ensure that the soil they are situated in is treated to mitigate against any residual industrial contaminants. Greener Leith also welcomes the proposals for an orchard, and would hope that this could be an opportunity to expand the newly established Edinburgh Childrens Orchard project into Leith. 

6. Greener Leith also notes that the creation of significant cycle route will eventually have an impact on the existing Leith Links and therefore extra investment, and careful design, will be required in the park to cope with this increased through flow of cyclists.

At Greener Leith, we might be doing our bit to try to make our corner of the planet better but we don't like to nag. However, the people behind 'The Nag' are pretty up front about it. They are very clever with their nagging though. They ask you to sign up to a 'monthly nag', and if you pay attention to it and take action, they aggregate all the wee nags using their clever website, to show the difference that people are making accross the country.

Even better, they have a highly amusing monthly crap prize draw, which explains the photo above. You could win this if you sign-up for a regular nag. How can you resist?

The organisers of the Parents Like Us event on Leith Links are appealing for volunteers to help with running the festival for 0-5's, set to take place on Leith Links on the 9th -11th of May. If you've never been, here's what they say about it:

Parents Like Us (PLU) is the UK's biggest festival for parents with children aged 0-5 years and is organised by ordinary parents, all of whom give their time voluntarily. Ours is a place where you can relax with your children knowing that they are in a safe and secure environment and surrounded by only good things, most of which are free or ridiculously low-priced. Entrance to the fenced-off arena is free too, so there's absolutely no excuse for not coming along for a meander with offspring on tow. Grab yourself a coffee, make yourself comfortable in our covered seating area and lose yourself in the live music whilst you browse the free programme and consider how many of the dozens of activities on offer you might fit in to the short time you've allowed. For those of us with young children there's no other festival or family day like it. And that's a fact.

Interested in helping? Contact Kate or Clare on 0131 553 2152.  

We read today that signs are to go up in Pilrig Park advising people in Polish that it is illegal to drink there. The police have taken these steps after receiving a high number of calls for underage drinking, vandalism and other crimes. We hope these signs will be bi-lingual, at the very least, so that local Polish people don't feel unfairly targeted.

Of course, we are delighted to see that the Leith Police are taking proactive steps to tackle vandalism in the park.

Community Food And Health Scotland has announced that it is looking for applications to its small grant fund for 2008. Last year the organisation gave 56 grants out between £500 and £3,000.

Initiaitves they are keen to fund should tackle the barriers that stop people from accessing or taking up healthy balanced diet. This could mean projects that make sure healthy foods are available, affordable, and that people have the skills to budget, shop for, and cook healthy food. Projects could also seek to tackle 'long ingrained' cultural habits of poor diet.

You can get more information from here.