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Alternatives to Meadowbank sell-off were simply ignored



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Decision snubs views of residents and sports people, says Kevin Connor.
THE council has now formally decided to radically downsize Meadowbank and sell off "part" of the site for housing. The official report recommending this includes two indicative diagrams: one shows a third of the site lost to housing; the other shows
half. Which will prove most prophetic?

The Save Meadowbank Campaign (SMC) emerged last year out of the anger and disbelief over the former council regime's decision (without any public or user consultation) to sell off Meadowbank. We remain committed to ensuring instead that Meadowbank is upgraded "to specifications deemed fit by the centre's users, local residents, and the wider public", and to preventing any sell-off of the site.

As well as from athletes like Allan Wells, Scott Hastings, Chris Hoy and Alex Arthur, support also flooded in from the then-opposition Liberal Democrats who claimed to be "100 per cent behind the campaign". The 700 people who attended our first public meeting at Meadowbank last March will also clearly recall the support implied by the SNP.

After winning the elections, however, the new Lib-Dem/SNP administration quickly morphed into "the Council".

Council workshops designed to take a fresh look at the issue found opposition to sell-off from all six local community councils, were made aware of the massive public support for an upgrade and were presented with alternatives to sell-off that would not break the bank. This was ignored in favour of a continued focus on "the development opportunities and capital receipt potential for any remaining part of the site" – i.e. sell-off.

The sell-off decision means a hugely popular centre is set to lose a huge swathe of facilities at a time when the public expects sports provision should increase.

SMC's architect Dimitris Theodossopoulos and respected athletics coach Bill Walker were both on the latest workshops that produced the report that informed the council. Strange that at no point was their input considered in the options appraisal.

Consideration of their input would have avoided the report's lack of provision "of outdoor all-weather sports (five-a-side football] pitches and facilities for martial arts and gymnastics" noted by the Tories before they approved the sale. It also may seem like wasted "capital receipt potential" to the council, but an athletics "throws area" is a necessary component of any athletics arena.

The council has invited SMC to the next round of workshops. But, as Dimitris put it, "until conditions that really appreciate our involvement are in place", we have no intention of lending further legitimacy to an illegitimate process.

In case anyone missed it, the new council administration is committed to ensuring "communities are fully involved in decisions which affect them and (that] local democracy is enlarged".

• Kevin Connor is spokesman for the Save Meadowbank campaign





The full article contains 483 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 26 March 2008 9:48 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Meadowbank
 
1

Stevie Mac,

Edinburgh 26/03/2008 13:04:51
Huge is an overused and undervalued word, as is massive.
2

Red Ted,

Edinburgh 26/03/2008 19:01:08
This is a terrible decision to sell off any of Meadowbank. Any Council/Political Party supporting this will face the same anger as Labour did at the last polls. We need these vital facilities to be retained and properly invested in, upgraded and improved, for all the reasons local people have been saying for a year or so now. Support to Save Meadowbank Campaign and the vast numbers of public and sports people who have and continue to try to save Meadowbank from the bulldozers and developers.

3

heatherp,

26/03/2008 22:26:53
Don;t sell off the land just to fund a smaller facility. Re-use and re-cycle what we have. Do not sell the lounge to pay for the kitchen.
4

AaronL,

Hillside 27/03/2008 01:55:51
Current legislation requires the council to consult on plans like the use of Meadowbank. Unfortunately, this legislation doesn't require the council to actually LISTEN to this consultation.

With the working group for example, many hourse were put in to show officials what the public required and demonstrate affordable ways to do this. In the end, 100's of man hours of professional work were completely ignored.

The idea that we should sell half the land to fund half the facilities can only be justified by those whose minds are full of greed. Trying to convince these people otherwise is futile. We have to move on.
5

heatherp,

27/03/2008 11:49:15
The CAPITALISED section below was EDITED OUT of the above article:

The Council formally decided last week to radically downsize Meadowbank, and to sell off ‘part’ of the site for housing. The report recommending this includes two indicative diagrams: one shows a third of the site lost to housing; the other shows half. Which diagram will prove most prophetic?

The Save Meadowbank Campaign (SMC) emerged last year out of the anger and disbelief over the former Council’s decision (without any public or user consultation) to sell off Meadowbank. We remain committed to ensuring instead that Meadowbank is upgraded “to specifications deemed fit by the centre’s users, local residents, and the wider public”, and to preventing any sell-off of the site.

As well as from athletes like Allan Wells, Scott Hastings, Chris Hoy, Alex Arthur etc, support also flooded in from the then-opposition Liberal Democrats who claimed to be “100% behind the campaign” AND WROTE THEY “DO NOT SUPPORT THE SALE OF THE SITE FOR HOUSING.” And the 700 people who attended our first public meeting at Meadowbank last March will clearly recall the support implied by the SNP.

Since winning the elections, however, the new Lib-Dem/SNP administration quickly morphed into ‘the Council’.

Council Workshops designed to take a fresh look at the issue found opposition to sell-off from all six local Community Councils; were made well aware of the massive public support for upgrade; and were presented with alternatives to sell-off that would not break the bank. This was ignored in favour of a continued focus on “the development opportunities and capital receipt potential for any remaining part of the Meadowbank site [i.e. sell-off]”.

The sell-off decision means a hugely popular centre is set to lose a huge swathe of facilities at a time when the public expects sports provision should increase.

BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTE, DIRECTOR OF SCOTTISH CYCLING, ALISTAIR WATSON EXPLAINED HOW “TO DO AWAY WITH SCOTL
6

DimitrisTh,

Edinburgh 27/03/2008 11:50:07
The above SMC mouthpiece will read better with these key points (Velodrome, consultation process) that were edited out (capitalised):


The Council formally decided last week to radically downsize Meadowbank, and to sell off ‘part’ of the site for housing. The report recommending this includes two indicative diagrams: one shows a third of the site lost to housing; the other shows half. Which diagram will prove most prophetic?

The Save Meadowbank Campaign (SMC) emerged last year out of the anger and disbelief over the former Council’s decision (without any public or user consultation) to sell off Meadowbank. We remain committed to ensuring instead that Meadowbank is upgraded “to specifications deemed fit by the centre’s users, local residents, and the wider public”, and to preventing any sell-off of the site.

As well as from athletes like Allan Wells, Scott Hastings, Chris Hoy, Alex Arthur etc, support also flooded in from the then-opposition Liberal Democrats who claimed to be “100% behind the campaign” AND WROTE THEY “DO NOT SUPPORT THE SALE OF THE SITE FOR HOUSING.” And the 700 people who attended our first public meeting at Meadowbank last March will clearly recall the support implied by the SNP.

Since winning the elections, however, the new Lib-Dem/SNP administration quickly morphed into ‘the Council’.

Council Workshops designed to take a fresh look at the issue found opposition to sell-off from all six local Community Councils; were made well aware of the massive public support for upgrade; and were presented with alternatives to sell-off that would not break the bank. This was ignored in favour of a continued focus on “the development opportunities and capital receipt potential for any remaining part of the Meadowbank site [i.e. sell-off]”.

The sell-off decision means a hugely popular centre is set to lose a huge swathe of facilities at a time when the public expects sports provision should increase.

BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTE, DIRECTOR OF S
7

heatherp,

27/03/2008 11:55:50
Here is the rest of the mouthpiece comment:

BEFORE THE COUNCIL VOTE, DIRECTOR OF SCOTTISH CYCLING, ALISTAIR WATSON EXPLAINED HOW “TO DO AWAY WITH SCOTLAND’S ONLY COMPETITIVE TRACK CYCLING FACILITY [VELODROME]”, WOULD THROW AWAY FOUR DECADES OF EXPERTISE; TO DO SO BEFORE ANY GLASGOW FACILITY IS ONLINE WOULD “ESSENTIALLY KILL TRACK CYCLING IN SCOTLAND”. HE LISTED THE MEDALS WON BY THE CITY OF EDINBURGH RACING CLUB: 285 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP; 16 COMMONWEALTH; 28 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP; AND 9 OLYMPIC MEDALS. AFTER APPLAUSE AND A PROMISE TO ‘CONSULT’, THE COUNCIL VOTED TO BULLDOZE THE VELODROME.

SMC’s architect Dimitris Theodossopoulos, and respected athletics coach Bill Walker were both on the latest workshops that produced the report that informed the Council. Strange then that “at no point” was their input “considered in the options appraisal AND [THAT] THE REPORT IS CERTAINLY NOT THE RESULT OF THE WORKSHOPS PROCESS.”

Consideration of their input would have avoided the report’s lack of provision “of outdoor all weather sports [5-a-side football] pitches and facilities for martial arts and gymnastics” noted by the Conservatives before they approved the sale; and it may seem like wasted “capital receipt potential” to the Council, but an athletics ‘throws area’ is a necessary component of any athletics arena. AND THE REPORT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE SHOWN THE ATHLETICS TRACK MOVED TO A POSITION THAT WOULD REQUIRE REROUTING THE TRAIN LINES!
8

AaronL,

Hillside 27/03/2008 15:04:39
Some fairly significant points were edited out of the Mouthpiece.
No mention of the loss of the velodrome;
That the running track being moved to an inappropriate location;
That the report was not the result of the workshops process
The Lib Dems written statement that they don't support the sale of the site for housing.
9

Stevie Mac,

Edinburgh 27/03/2008 16:26:12
Judging by the volume of letters on this subject it seems farcical to depict the support against a remodelling of Meadowbank as "huge".

The statement "
As well as from athletes like Allan Wells, Scott Hastings, Chris Hoy, Alex Arthur etc, support also flooded in from the then-opposition Liberal Democrats who claimed to be “100% behind the campaign” AND WROTE THEY “DO NOT SUPPORT THE SALE OF THE SITE FOR HOUSING."

is not very convincing and nor particulalry relevant either, given that a max of 50% will be sold off for housing.

Also, why is it that only the first public meeting held by the SMC is ever mentioned?
10

jon g,

edinburgh 03/04/2008 01:49:42
So the council can't afford Meadowbank?
Errrr, aren't "we" hosting the Olympics in 4 yrs time. How many billions is that costing, and how much is Scotland's contribution, for an event in London? I'm sure I remember Tony Blair saying that was going to have a ripple effect with training facilities (ha!) all over the UK.
Errrr, and aren't "we" hosting the Commonwealth games 2 yrs later. Again, how much is Edinburgh putting into that? I'm sure I remember Jack McConnel saying the bid would benefit the whole of Scotland.
Anyway, judging by the price tag of these two events we've obviously gots lots of spare cash to flash about so what's the problem?
But maybe I'm not getting it. I thought the idea of hosting the olympics and commonwealth games had something to do with sport, like we might actually win some medals. Or is it just a fortnight long telly fest for us, while we applaud everybody else. I'm not sure any more, maybe the edinburgh councillors know what the game plan is? Be nice if they told us where our money is going and why.
PS And don't say its OK cause its lottery money, that's our money too.

 

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