Plans have been approved and funding applications have been successful for environment improvements to East Harrison Park.
A grant of £47,500 has been secured through Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) which finances projects eligible under the Landfill Communities Fund. A further grant of £50,000 has been secured from Sustrans the leading UK sustainable transport charity.
The City of Edinburgh Council and The Waterways Trust Scotland have also contributed funds to the project, the latter through private donations.
The improvements will include the construction of paths linking Watson Crescent and West Bryson Road to the Union Canal which will improves access for pedestrians and cyclists.
There will also be two new ramps for disabled people built which will enable easier access to Watson Crescent and the Union Canal.
Tree planting and soft landscaping will also be incorporated into the final scheme which has been designed by Urban Design Futures based in Edinburgh.
Work on the environmental project will start around 4 March.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environmental Leader, said: “This is an excellent project which will benefit walkers and cyclists who use the Union Canal regularly. This scheme demonstrates the excellent community work which has been going on to get these plans up and running.
“We have been successfully working in partnership with WREN to bring some of the best community facilities to Edinburgh. Not only will these latest improvements benefit local people but they will bring huge benefits for the larger wider community who use the canal to cycle and walk to and from work.”
Caroline Sanderson, WREN Grant Manager said: “This is a fantastic project that will have a real impact on the community. It is a great example of the benefits that can be achieved through partnership working”.
WREN was also involved in funding 4 projects in Scotland which have won prestigious awards
- Lord Ancrum’s Wood Grotto Bridge, Newbattle Abbey College, WREN provided funding of £44,455 for the replacement of a 1940s Bailey bridge, known as the ‘Grotto Bridge’ with a state of the art stress laminated timber bridge. In recognition of its innovative and outstanding design, it won the “The Best Use of British Timber” category in the prestigious annual Wood Awards.
- Dalmeny Street Play Area, Edinburgh, WREN provided funding of £50,000 towards new play equipment in a project which enabled the local residents and young people to participate in the design of their park. The project was commended in the Nancy Ovens Trust Play Awards 2010 for community involvement in play.
- Out of the Blue, Drill Hall Refurbishment, Edinburgh – WREN funding of £39,726 was used to convert disused space into a sculpture and community garden area along with developing the community cafe. Out of the Blue, an arts and education trust, provides affordable space for Edinburgh’s cultural community and creates opportunities for everyone to participate in the arts. They were the winner of the Triodos Bank ‘Social Vision’ competition, and are now representing Scotland in the final.
- Edinburgh – Saughton Skatepark, WREN provided £50,000 towards the building of the skatepark. The skatepark has proved to be hugely popular and is one of the best and biggest in Scotland. It has won the Nancy Ovens Trust Award for Play.
