City Plan: A vision
for the capital
4 POLITICS
Horsing around at North Edinburgh Community Festival
Terminal plans shelved for former Cockenzie power station site
Dead in the water
By MARIE SHARP
Local Democracy ReporterTHE VISION OF a cruise terminal at the site of
a former East Lothian power station looks dead
in the water as councillors are asked to stop any
further investigation into it.
A report on the future of the former
Cockenzie Power Station land, which East
Lothian Council bought in 2018 stated that it is
time to drop the port option for the coastal site
which faces ‘significant challenges’.
It goes on to say that an alternative project to
create a national climate change centre on the
land does not currently have the funding for it to
go ahead.
Councillors were told the high capital costs of
a cruise terminal, long payback period required
and a potential lack of investment from the
cruise industry makes it unlikely to be viable at a
council meeting.
The report revealed that the site would need
national support which has not materialised
after it was not identified in The Scottish
Government’s National Planning Framework 4
(NPF4) for port use.
A number of other practical challenges in
relation to infrastructure, transport, practicality
and potential berthing issues are also flagged up.
Councillors were asked to agree that port
proposals should not be taken further forward at
the meeting and instead focus on employment-
related, land-based development promoting net
zero infrastructure and significant economic
opportunities.
The proposal for a national climate change
centre, known as the 360 project, along with the
creation of public art installations of giant
fisherwomen looking out to see and green space,is not being taken off the table but councillors
were advised that a recent report put its capital
costs at £29.6 million and suggested it was
‘economically unviable’.
The report asked councillors to “note that the
360 Project report identifies a vision for a climate
change centre, public realm and education/
training on the site, but also identifies risks and
viability challenges in terms of the proposals, for
which there is no current funding.”
Levelling Up funding of £11.3 million grantedby the UK Government was won on the back of
the Cockenzie Masterplan drawn up with
extensive public consultation in 2017 and will be
used to undertake site preparation and
remediation works for future development.
The report acknowledged that part of the 2017
vision for the site included “public realm
improvements” at the site which could
incorporate some of the 360 project, stating:
“Whilst the report suggests 360 Group’s proposed
climate change visitor centre is economically
unviable, the 2017 Cockenzie Masterplan did
envisage public realm improvements throughout
the site and on the seafront areas.
“Therefore there is overlap with the 360
Group’s vision for public open space, public
realm, public art and greenspace improvements
to the site.”
Members of the group behind the climate
change project have been encouraged to engage
with elected members and a further report on its
will be brought back to the council after the
summer recess.By DEIDRE BROCK
MP for Edinburgh North and LeithAT NORTH Edinburgh
Community Festival I met the
amazing Equilearn team, who
kindly offered me the chance
to tour their beautiful
Craigcrook site and learn more
about the work they do.
Founder Jaymee has alwaysbeen horse mad, but growing
up in Pilton she knew there was
little opportunity for would-be
equestrians in North
Edinburgh. Her goal was to give
extra life-chances to young
people from the area who
needed a little extra support.
The combination of her two
passions resulted just a year
ago in Equilearn.The project has gone from
strength to strength and can
now offer access to nine ponies
and horses, who must be some
of the best cared for and loved
in Scotland. It provides young
people with a brilliant
opportunity to increase
self-confidence and wellbeing
through the Equine Assisted
Learning programme andriding lessons. Sessions are
designed for outdoor learning
as well as helping young
people with additional support
needs to develop socio-
emotional skills in a safe place.
Equilearn offer an SQA
approved qualification in
Horsecare, and are in discussion
with other organisations about
more training possibilities.It was lovely to hear of the
real difference it’s made to
youngsters’ lives and about the
special personalities of the
horses and ponies they’re
caring for - I can understand
the huge demand for the
programme that’s built up
already! They are fundraising to
be able to offer support to
those on the waiting list.Thomas NugentScottish Power
Site of the old Cockenzie
Power Station from the airCockenzie, pre-demolitionBy CLLR JAMES DALGLEISH
Planning Convener The City of Edinburgh CouncilMY FIRST YEAR as Planning Convener for
Edinburgh has been interesting to say the
least. As a Planning Committee, we have
made good progress with our City Plan
and our short-term let control area. We end
our first year pointing to success.
When taking on this role, I promised to
pass the final draft of City Plan 2030 before
the end of 2022 - this was passed
unanimously in November. City Plan is our
vision for Edinburgh over the next 10
years, focused on increasing affordable
housing, tackling the climate crisis and
getting the balance right on issues such as
student accommodation.
We have made progress on short-term
lets with Edinburgh becoming the first
short-term let control area in Scotland in
September. This Labour Council remains
committed to implementing fair, but
robust, short term let regulations.
My colleagues and I are working hard to
present a new World Heritage
Management Plan to protect and invest in
our amazing world heritage site. I am
totally committed to protecting our world
heritage sites and UNESCO status.
Recently I worked across the chamber to
have a motion on Energy Efficiency in
Homes approved. Some residents will be
affected by new government regulations
on increasing standards of energy
efficiency in their homes. We must work
with The Scottish Government and
residents, partially those living in
conservation areas or those on low
incomes struggling to pay for alterations to
get this right.
We have made much progress but there
is more to do. The Edinburgh Labour group
remains focused and committed to the city
we care deeply about and getting our
services right for our residents.