well said mr grubb !!

Edinburgh will not remain 'the envy of the world' if Mr Grubb is allowed to influence further planning decisions in protected heritage areas. 8 days before the elections, he persuaded councillors on the planning committee to reject the advice of their own planning experts, and to grant planning permission for a 5-storey hotel to be built on the sandy beach in South Queensferry, in the heart of a conservation area. Planners recommended refusal because the plans were contrary to the council's development plan, which discourage backland development (ie on the beach). They also contravened new fewer than four of the council's rural development policies - yet heritage expert Grubb quietly persuaded the likes of ex-Cllr. Ponton to ignore the considered advice of the planners and to allow the plan. We now know that the plans will destroy a right of way as well as a much-loved beach. They will cause traffic chaos in the medieval royal burgh. They will destroy forever the quiet charm of this place - but Grubb doesn't care, because he has got the lamp-post outside his house and the limo in the drive. Rotten boroughs are a live and well.