SOOT for Geddes Weekend

8/8/2019 SOOT for Geddes Weekend

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The beginning 2005

● Mountgrange aquiredNew Street bus depot

● Canongate CommunityForum (Save Our Old

Town) established inresponse to display of Mountgrange masterplan

● CEC agree Land sale

with Mountgrange● Consent granted to

demolish New StreetGarage.



Community activityThroughout 2006 SOOT provided information and

created new opportunities for local residents and other organisations to get together and discuss the future for the community

●

Live music nights, publicmeetings with a wide rangeof guest speakers

● Established a website withlinks to relevant council

departments and staff ● Made and displayed banners

● Produced and circulatedposters and info locally



Developer led planning andconsultation

Mountgrange's Caltongate Masterplan was adopted by CECfor consultation April and approved in October(2006).

● Online surveycommissioned by

developer

● Community PlanningDay workshop and a half day stakeholders

workshop facilitated byconsultants.

● Developer sponsoredpublic displays



Canongate Cow Parade



The Alternative Strategy -presented by Canongate Community Forum at the

Caltongate Masterplan Stakeholder Workshop



May 2006 SOOT Street Party



Concerns identified duringconsultation process

● Masterplan not responsive to location or National and local planning policies.

● Overlarge scale and simplistic layout more

suited to an edge of city site.● Damage to architectural and cultural heritage,

demolition of listed and historic buildings.

●

Unsustainable and unnecessary demolitions● Not responsive to the urgent local needs:

family housing, affordable start up andworkshop space, safe green spaces



Blueprint agreed

Despite massive objections from many communityand heritage groups and numerous individuals theCaltongate Masterplan was approved assupplementary planning guidance October 2006



Planning applications submitted

● 2007 13 newoverlapping planningapplications

subbmitted● Podium and

affordable housingapproved with no

hearing● Scottish Elections –

change in

administration



Community Consultation

● SOOT occupy a shopin Grassmarket anddisplay details of

applications● Over 350 individuals

submit objections toall the applications

● 2007 Scottishelections result inchange of

administration



2008

● CEC newadministration mindedto approve planning

applications for Caltongate

● CanongateCommunity Forumawarded funding to

carry out communityaction research



The Canongate Project



Community Mapping







Local History





Walks and Talks



Banner making



Working with artists Cuboid

● Ceated a portableSOOT shop to gather and distribute info

● Produced a fanzine

SOOT Bloid

● Performance pieceusing recycled junk andexpressing the struggle

between developersand community



Key issues identified

● Housing – need for family and affordablehousing

● Community facilities and usable green public

space needed – privatisation of public space● Economic development - support needed for

start up and independent business, lack of affordable space for artists and crafts people

● Planning and regulation - democratic deficit indecisions



Action Points from CanongateProject Report

Demand CEC uphold the decision to use the£100,000 Bond from Mountgrange to allow atemporary landscape scheme to be implementedon the New St gap site.

Request a full review of current land disposals byCEC for joint (development) ventures to assesspotential losses of proposed profits resulting fromthe recent economic crisis.

Allow the community temporary use ormanagement of vacant buildings to supportcommunity needs - eg small business start up,artist space, community meetings/projects, as isbeing implemented by councils throughout theU.K.

Identify vacant homes, buildings and land thatcould be used to renovate into homes or havehomes built upon. A strategy to increase thepopulation of the Old Town to a sustainable levelwhere the community is central to planning.

Support a community led initiative to develop astrategy for the regeneration and preservation of the Old Town in partnership with existingorganisations and groups.

Apply pressure on CEC to keep a register of Common Good Land and Assets.

Make links with those who want to changetaxation on land banking.

Support national initiatives for the scrapping of VAT on repairs to existing buildings.

Seek opportunities to work with other localorganizations and seek funding and support todevelop, collation and archive research materialcollected.

Identify land that is under used to develop intogreen and/or public space.



2009 Economic change

● Credit crunch - Mountgrange go intoadministration

● UNESCO report critical of Caltongate and calls

for amendments● SOOT deputation to CEC calling for council

buildings, and bond on gap site to be used

●

Edinburgh Old Town Development Trustestablished

● SOOT focus on arts and action



Guide Cause 2009



Developing links with artists

Collective Gallery

● Bank of Reason

● Publik Booth



World Community Arts Day



International Guerilla Gardening Day



Canongate Urban Fringe Workshop



Old Town Festival 2010

● Community art exhibition

● Talk on Reggio Emilia Approach to learning

● Women of the Old Town film● Junk Art puppet workshops

Documents

SOOT for Geddes Weekend