The council’s Development Management Committee considered the application to demolish the Victorian building at Canonmills Bridge this morning for more than two hours before deciding to refuse it to resounding cheers from the public gallery.
They heard deputations from Save Canonmills Bridge, local ward councillors, the Cockburn Association and other local groups with an interest along with a representative speaking on behalf of the owner.
The report put before the council recommended demolition of the building. There is planning permission already in place for a development of 2 restaurants, 6 flats and 3 townhouses granted in 2013 when a legal agreement relating to transport requirements was signed.
Councillor Maureen Child commented that the whole sense of place in Canonmills depends on the building on the bridge. Councillor Hinds and the other two local councillors Councillor Barrie and Councillor Gardner pleaded with the committee to refuse the application on the basis that this would lead to the break up of a real ‘place’ in the capital.
Councillor Ronnie Cairns exhorted the committee to refuse the application. He said: “These shops are beautiful!”
Jan Anderson of Save Canonmills Bridge said: “My involvement started with Ross McEwan and I getting together and putting a leaflet through local residents’ doors. We were pushing against an open door. We have around 7,000 signatures for our petition to save the buildings. We have had a lot of people speaking to us on our stall on the bridge. There was a shocking lack of communication in relation to the earlier stages of this process.”
She quoted the well known line from that well known Joni Mitchell song”Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone” and pleaded with the council to save the buildings that are there and which she said now seem to have a successful economic future.
Ms Anderson explained that Canonmills is a busy road junction with four bus routes, and a unique and open skyscape. In more recent times the buildings have been used in different ways and at the time of the last planning permission the building was a bit forlorn. This is not about saving Earthy this is about saving the essence of the area.
The group had gathered ideas and comments from members of the public on luggage labels and these were passed round the councillors attending the meeting. It became clear as the discussions progressed that the mood of the committee was to refuse the demolition order of the Victorian building.
Marion Williams Director of the Cockburn Association told The Edinburgh Reporter: “I am delighted that the committee were unanimous in refusing permission to demolish this building. Demolition would have had a detrimental impact on the urban setting and sense of place Canonmills enjoys. The community made a clear case and the councillors have responded well to their heartfelt representations to save the building.”
The committee took the decision after two hours of deliberation and discussion that they would refuse the application to demolish the building. This leaves the planning permission for the new building in place, but it would appear that the developer will be unable to do anything with it if they cannot demolish what is already there.
We are currently awaiting comment from Fouin and Bell on behalf of Glovart Holdings who own the property.
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