Council by-election Leith Walk Ward – Susan Rae

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Susan Rae is the Green Party candidate for the Leith Walk Ward at the upcoming by-election in September.

She is a newish member of the political party but is a local person who feels she will be able to help others.

Although there has been a Green councillor in the ward before she recognises that there is everything to fight for here. She said: During the Independence campaign I worked with the Greens and I enjoyed my politics again.

“Here on the ground through my work and through living there I have come to recognise the kind of problems people experience and I think I can help with these. I tend to get things done!

“I think the Walk needs to be more open to cyclists and pedestrians and not as much to heavy traffic.” Susan believes that if the tram project is to come down Leith Walk the council have to ensure that all the traders and residents will gain from that and not endure too much more pain.

Susan is originally from Hawick in the Scottish Borders but she has lived in Edinburgh for 9 years and for the last 7 years in Inchkeith Court, just off the Walk.

She works part-time with Support@Work (Edinburgh Trade Union Council) as Project Administrator – this project provides advice and support to those not in a Union who are having difficulties in the workplace: not being paid minimum wage, holiday pay, sick pay, coping with disciplinary hearings, advice on the Equality Act 2010 and also training.

Her other part-time job is as Training Assistant with Scottish Parent Teachers Council helping to organise training for Parent Councils throughout Scotland which is delivered by a team of Regional Advisors.

Here is our interview with her:

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The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

Voting will take place on 10 September 2015 from 7:00am till 10:00pm. In 2012 the turnout in this ward was only 36.2%. The four councillors elected were Angela Blacklock (Scottish Labour), Deidre Brock (SNP) Maggie Chapman (Greens) and Nick Gardner (Scottish Labour).

The by-election has been called as a result of two resignations. Councillor Deidre Brock has recently been elected to Westminster as MP for Edinburgh North & Leith and Councillor Maggie Chapman will be standing in next year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections in the North East of Scotland.