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Aitken denies link to Caltongate firm



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EDINBURGH'S Labour leader today hit back at claims his former administration was wined and dined at a champagne reception paid for by the company behind the Caltongate development.
Councillor Ewan Aitken says none of the city's Labour councillors attended a Scottish Labour Party gala dinner sponsored by Mountgrange in the run-up to the election last year.

Reports today suggested that they were at the £4000 champagne reception paid for by the company behind the controversial £300 million Old Town development before councillors approved the first phase of the project.

But Cllr Aitken says the Edinburgh councillors did not attend the event – which was in Glasgow – and did not know it was sponsored by Mountgrange until afterwards.

He said today: "Labour held a fundraising gala dinner which I wasn't at and my colleagues weren't at, as far as I know."





The full article contains 146 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 20 February 2008 1:24 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Caltongate development
 
1

Buttress,

20/02/2008 13:50:51
See:

http://independentrepublicofthecanongate.blogspot.com/

for the report from the Times

and eh8.org.uk


for a great deal of other info.

2

Buttress,

20/02/2008 14:00:35
See also:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Councillor-in-onefinger-salute-to.2835140.jp

A champagne reception hosted by Mountgrange, attended by Coun. Tevor Davies, held in the Old Town...
3

Buttress,

20/02/2008 14:12:11
'A London-based development company behind one of the most controversial planning decisions in Edinburgh made a £4,000 donation to the Scottish Labour Party to fund a champagne reception at a time when the backing of party councillors for the project was crucial to its success.


A Times investigation has established that the donation was made by Mountgrange, the company which is developing the £300 million Caltongate project in the heart of Edinburgh's historic OldTown. The scheme, which envisages the demolition of some listed buildings, is bitterly opposed by conservationists.


The disclosure of the donation last night provoked outrage among the scheme’s opponents, who seized demanded an investigation into links between the former Labour council and Mountgrange...'

Times today.
4

Kilmartin,

Edinburgh 20/02/2008 14:37:07
Surely this is an ecumenical matter, Father Ewan?
5

mad moo,

edinburgh 20/02/2008 14:57:06
mountgrange also have interests in the west
Pheonix park
see http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3052748

Did this not end up having to be called in because of conflict with protection of a bird habitat??

Maybe its not only built heritage at risk by these developers
6

Buttress,

20/02/2008 15:17:10
Not sure developers like Mountgrunge care about much apart from their own bank balances - bit like Allan Murray architect?

He of the recent article hitting out at those 'thoughtless' people who objected to his and Mountgrunge's plans for Caltongate etc?

It's true really - we are all forgetting he has an ego to keep inflated. Very thoughtless indeed.







7

Miss Jean Brodie,

20/02/2008 15:33:45
"Labour held a fundraising gala dinner which I wasn't at and my colleagues weren't at, as far as I know."

battle cry o labour - Deny everything - ha ha - hey Wendy whaur dya get that cash - and is it legal - ha ha - cheerio to Labour and the UK pleeze !
8

Buttress,

20/02/2008 15:45:07
http://www.woolamaloo.org.uk/labels/Caltongate.htm
9

Edward,

20/02/2008 16:05:27
'Cllr Aitken says the Edinburgh councillors did not attend the event – which was in Glasgow – and did not know it was sponsored by Mountgrange until afterwards'
Now thats funny, because councillers attended one in the Old Town as reported in the Evening News at the time
Sorry Aitken youve been found out!
10

Edward,

20/02/2008 16:08:26
Both Aitken and his deputy Perry are just plain and simple crooks
Labour have asked Perry to resign, perhaps they should ask Aitken to do the honourable thing
11

Buttress,

20/02/2008 16:22:29
http://www.edinburghsucks.com/2007/02/05/defending-the-indefensible/
12

Buttress,

20/02/2008 16:26:12
Aitken leaps to defence of planning chief





« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »
View GalleryCITY leader Ewan Aitken has leapt to the defence of controversial planning leader Trevor Davies.
Councillor Davies has decided to stand down from his role as committee convener whenever the Caltongate redevelopment is discussed.

Protesters had complained about his relationship with developers Mountgrange, and an obscene gesture he made outside a champagne reception hosted by the company.

Speaking in the City Chambers, Cllr Aitken said: "The decision to stand down at these meetings was Councillor Davies's because he believed the unwarranted publicity about him meant some people might perceive some sense of impropriety. But there is none.

"The issue is one of perception rather than actual fact, and he took the decision to step back even though it is not the case that there is impropriety.

"He believes in the planning process strongly and it is right and proper that he has come to this decision."

Cllr Davies will temporarily hand over the chairmanship of the planning committee to colleague Ian Murray when the development comes up. But he will continue to vote as an ordinary member of the committee.

The protesters have also now written to the Standards Commission about Cllr Davies attending the developers' reception in the first place, claiming that the move broke the council's code of conduct.

The full article contains 218 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.Last Updated: 05 February 2007 1:54 PM
13

karinxx,

20/02/2008 20:19:58
Im sick of this river of sleaze from labour.
14

grantcat,

Old Town 20/02/2008 21:25:29
Manish Chande the Director of Mountgrange gave personal donations to the Kensington Conservative Party but his company gave a £4000 donation to the Scottish Labour Party!!!! I wouldn't mind but i think the Canongate is worth more than £4000. Trevor Davies, other councils and other planning officails went to a party organised by Mountgrange in 2006 - that is when Trevor "the finger" Davies gave us the one finger salute, don't know if there was champagne and don't know if there were donations made but this hobnobbing is common practice.

The Labour party are a disgrace and cheap.
15

Ard Righ,

The Rock Of Edinburgh 20/02/2008 22:54:52
"bitterly opposed by conservationists."

and locals...
and those who work in the area,
those who visit,
royalty,
Edinburgh in general.

We all hate the proposals.

Recall

RECALL



RECAAAAAAAAAAAAAL

 

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