Alison Blamire the architect who was so firmly behind The Causey development, has been given a posthumous award for her work.
The Charles Maher Living Streets Award for 2018 recognises an individual or local group who campaign to get more people walking in their area.
Always a passionate ambassador for The Causey, Alison’s vision turned the tarmac triangle in Causewayside into a beach one weekend. The project won the Architects’ Journal Small Projects Award in 2007, after which the Causey Development Trust was set up.
Alison was committed to the Trust until a short time before she died last year, working with the council and other stakeholders to change the way the Causey looked and how it would best work for people in the area.
Chair of the Causey Steering Group, David Wood said: “We are thrilled Alison’s work on The Causey has been recognised with the Charles Maher Living Streets Award. Alison was an inspirational ambassador for the project, showing incredible passion and creativity in her campaign to achieve a vision to transform a vehicle dominated part of Edinburgh’s Southside into a safe, accessible, more attractive place for everyone who lived, worked and visited.
“The award is of course tinged with sadness that Alison herself is not here to receive it, but I have no doubt she would be immensely proud of the award and the recognition this will bring to The Causey.”
Stuart Hay, Director of Living Streets Scotland added: “Alison’s work empowered Causey Development Trust to aim to deliver a significant improvement to the walking environment in Edinburgh. Inspiring The Causey, she supported Living Streets’ determination to make every day walking the natural choice in vibrant, healthy streets.”
Alison’s husband, Alistair Blamire collected the award on her behalf at a ceremony in London last week.
The work on The Causey goes on to provide a space where events might take place, where walking and cycling are promoted, that connects to other key public spaces nearby and which celebrates the history of the area.
Most recently comments were invited on the current design proposal at the beginning of March. The plan is to introduce a new Transport Regulation Order and Re-determination order to reflect the changes to the roads and pavements. The consultation period has ended and the proposals will, we understand, be considered at a future Transport and Environment Committee meeting.
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