Save Meadowbank campaigners criticise politicians

The campaigners behind the Save Meadowbank campaign have criticised politicians who failed to attend their meeting last month. They say that the council plans to replace Meadowbank stadium with a ‘cut-down sports centre and hundreds of flats’.

All political group leaders on the council were invited to their most recent meeting but none attended. Those against the current plans for the new stadium say that one party, the Liberal Democrats, did not reply or attend while others sent local councillors along instead.

Linda Furley, the campaign spokesman, said : “Hundreds of people turned up to raise concerns about what is a highly controversial plan. The refusal of the lead Councillors to attend shows a complete lack of leadership and contempt for the citizens they claim to represent.

“They have failed to properly consult on a sell-off and downsizing of a popular facility and are now running scared from hearing criticism at first hand.

“Two MSPs who spoke agreed there had been a failure to properly consult. All but one of the junior Councillors did similarly.

“People have turned out in their hundreds to voice objections. Those present at the meeting were in no doubt about the strength of feeling which has now been shown at two public meetings and the formal planning application process earlier this year which attracted an objection rate of over 80%.

“We urge members of the public to contact the Planning Committee and make their views known.”

Green Councillor Alex Staniforth told The Edinburgh Reporter that the consultation has not been good enough. He said : “A packed room of 200-300 people in April was a clear enough signal. Equally, letting the current sport facilities fall into neglect and then selling land to build replacements is an unsustainable way for the council to approach sport in the future.”

There were 397 comments relating to the change of use, with 311 objections. The campaigners say that support for the plan to demolish and replace the stadium is reducing as the overall number of supporters was just 80 out of 581 counting online and written submissions.

The campaigners say there is so little support that the council should look again at the ‘controversial development’ and reflect on the opposition to it.

The future of the stadium at Meadowbank and the wider site will both be considered on 29 June 2018 at a meeting of the Development Management Committee devoted to both applications.