Council elections 2017 – Corstorphine/Murrayfield

Jeremy Balfour is now an MSP and will be resigning as a councillor for that reason. Paul Edie has also indicated that he will be resigning. The Liberal Democrats used to run the council until 2012 and Councillor Edie was the Housing Convener, but their numbers have decreased to only two councillors from a previous 13. Councillor Alistair Shields who represents the Almond Ward resigned from his party and has stood for a large part of the term as an Independent councillor. He will be standing down in 2017.

Our bet is that Frank Ross who was Economy Convener and then became the SNP Group leader last year, will become the new Council Leader in 2017. He has told us himself that he believes it will continue to be a coalition council, but he does hope that he will have a bigger political group than any other party. This would mean that the SNP could set the agenda for local government this time round, although they have been a large part of the coalition for the last five years anyway.

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This ward is home to the most polluted road in Edinburgh, St John’s Road. Waitrose decided not to proceed with a development of the former Woolworths store on that road due to local opposition.

The fire which destroyed the Corstorphine Hall has meant that funds have had to be raised to replace it. And of course our two pandas live in this Ward.

Scott Douglas Conservative

Scott Douglas is the Conservative leader’s press officer, and pretty well versed in all Conservative policy and strategy.

Scott has been selected as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Murrayfield and Corstorphine hoping to replace Cllr Jeremy Balfour, who is standing down from the council following his election to the Scottish Parliament last year.

Speaking after his selection Scott said:  “I am delighted to have been chosen as the candidate in Murrayfield and Corstorphine. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the city, and I want to provide a strong voice for residents on the council.”

“I’m looking forward to spending the next few months campaigning and meeting local residents to find out their views on what they want from their council. Having spent the majority of my life living and working in Edinburgh, I am passionate about this city and want to do all I can to ensure it remains a great place to live.”

Cllr Jeremy Balfour said, “It has been an honour to have been the councillor for Murrayfield & Corstorphine over the years. However, I know Scott is passionate about the area, and he would provide a strong voice for it in the City Chambers.”

Gillian Gloyer Liberal Democrats

Gillian Gloyer says she wants to build on Corstorphine and Murrayfield’s legacy of 45 years of Liberal council representation, with community rights, community power and local decision-making at the heart of our politics.

“I believe that what most people want from their city council is competent administration of local services – roads fit to travel on, air fit to breathe, bins emptied on time, and local businesses supported through difficult economic times.

“In Corstorphine and Murrayfield, I am especially keen to protect our green spaces – Corstorphine Hill and our much-loved parks – which give all of us somewhere to relax, exercise or simply to breathe, away from the pollution of the main roads.”

Gillian trains and advises political parties, election commissions and civil society organisations across the world. She is one of the UK’s most experienced international election observers.

Frank Ross has been both the Council Economy Convener and latterly the Deputy Leader.

He  has these ambitions for Corstorphine Murrayfield :

• Reduce pollution levels on the main A8 corridor
• Improve walkability and safety around schools
• Protect the town centres of Corstorphine and Roseburn as active retail places
• Improve street cleanliness
• Support development for employment opportunities for local citizens
• Eliminate the parking issues currently impacting local residents

The Edinburgh Reporter met with the SNP Group leader as he was pushing envelopes through doors in Corstorphine.

Ross was exposed by The Herald last week for not declaring his purchase of a small hotel in the Highlands. But he claims it was an administrative error only and not a malicious one. The register of interests which every councillor is responsible for keeping up to date is online and indeed when we checked the hotel interest is now logged. Here he answers the criticism and sets out his priorities for the city.