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Leith Police Station dismissethed with four others
It’s a swing
decision
TOLLCROSS FIRE Station is now in the
category of B-listed buildings. The 37-year-
old structure has been cited as a
significant example of postmodern
Scottish architecture.
The building was designed by Wick-
born architect Donald William Bain, who
worked with Lothian Regional Council
Department of Architectural Services, and
on the development of Livingston, during
the 1960s. The relief sculpture mounted
on the front of the building was the result
of a design competition, and the winning
design was by a then-third-year student at
Edinburgh College of Art, David Roxburgh.
Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at
HES, said: “The Tollcross Fire Station is one
of Scotland’s major contributions to the
postmodern style, and it is one of the best
examples we have of this architectural
style which is rare in Scotland.
“It now joins a very select few other
notable buildings of the same era on the
list of Scotland’s most important buildings,
such as the Dundee Repertory Theatre and
Princes Square in Glasgow.
“Anyone can propose a building for
listing via our website. We are currently
being asked to consider more of the
buildings of the later modern period as
recent as the late 1980s, as their
architectural quality and contribution to
our social and economic history is
increasingly recognised.”The importance
of architecture
By DONALD TURVILL
Local Democracy ReporterA ‘SWINGERS CLUB’ in Edinburgh has made a
last-ditch attempt to stay open after being
ordered to shut down by the council.
Cornucopia in Sighthill is fighting an
enforcement notice served for operating
without planning permission.
The venue – which claims to be the largest of
its kind in the region – was told to cease use of a
unit at Bankhead Industrial Estate as a private
adult club by January 11. However, an appeal
has now been lodged with The Scottish
Government who will decide the club’s fate.
Despite not having planning consent
Cornucopia’s website advertises regular
‘swingers nights’ and ‘kink events’ hosted at the
former Napier University office, which was
subdivided to form “playrooms, kink and
BDSM areas” as part of the works undertaken.
Owners have been locked in a planning battlewith The City of Edinburgh Council for more
than a year after an initial application was
refused over concerns about the impact on
public safety. Officials also said objections were
raised about anti-social behaviour issues.
Councillors on the local authority’s local
review body (LRB) then threw out an appeal in
June, with one saying it was vital to “protect
these spaces for industry and business use”.
Graham Ludar-Smith, who owns
Cornucopia’s building, previously told the Local
Democracy Reporting Service he was under the
impression no planning permission was
necessary to open the venue.
He said the premises were “more like a sports
centre” used by different local groups on
different days. He claimed the swingers’ club is
one set of people who are going to be using it.
Planners were also accused of using a “moral
standpoint” to block the proposals and it was
argued the existence of swingers’ clubs – spaces
where couples meet up and engage in sexualactivities – was “unavoidable” and best managed
in “an area that reduces risk to all parties”.
The latest statement issued on behalf of
Ludar-Smith, which was submitted as part of
the appeal against the council’s enforcement
notice, accused planners and the LRB of
“cherry-picking” reasons to refuse permission
and overlooking “critical” national planning
policies.
The owner claimed: “This private social
club not only promises to be a valuable addition
to Edinburgh’s social landscape, but also
brings tangible benefits to the local community
and economy.
“The nature of the rejection raises questions
as to whether extraneous factors, such as
moral judgements potentially related to the
development’s nature or religious objections
to certain activities, unduly influenced
the decision.”
It is believed that a final decision will be
issued by March.Owners of Edinburgh adult venue, Cornucopia,
suggest ‘moral judgments’ may be behind
council serving enforcement notice
By PHYLLIS STEPHENPOLICE SCOTLAND has plans to
close 29 police stations all over
Scotland, in a cost cutting and
rationalisation exercise and is asking
the public for their views.
In Edinburgh the stations affected
include:- Balerno which was used as a base
for 10 officers during the pandemic
but was previously vacant. - Fettes was the former police HQ,
which is mainly now a lost
property office. - Leith which is manned from 7am
to midnight and is now handily
located next to the tramline in the
city's most densely populated
neighbourhood. - The West End police station which
is open Monday to Friday from
9am to 5pm. - Portobello police station.
Divisional Commander Sean Scott
said: "Over the last year we have
been working to look at the
buildings we have across Edinburgh
and how we use them. We were
given the opportunity to consider
where we would want to locateour people to be as effective
and efficient as possible.
This work has allowed us to
identify buildings which we
believe are no longer required.
"Transforming our estate is a
fundamental part of the future ofpolicing in Scotland and we must
deliver something different that is
less expensive and more effective
than the current model. Disposing
of these buildings will also allow us
to focus our efforts on developing
better accommodation for our
officers and staff whilst also
enhancing successful relationships
with our partners."
Lothians MSP Miles Briggs said:
“I am concerned about the
proposed closures of the police
estate across Edinburgh. A strong
police presence is essential for
preventing crime and keeping our
communities safe. I will be seeking
answers on what measures are
being put in place to ensure that a
sufficient police presence will be
maintained in these areas.”
Police Scotland already have a
policy of being situated close to
other services and, where possible,sharing locations. Divisional
Commanders have been asked
for their input to provide
better services, and to highlight
any buildings which are no
longer needed.
Deputy Chief Constable, Malcolm
Graham said: “Our estate needs to
be fit for 21st century policing,
putting service enhancement,
visibility, and engagement at the
heart of the communities we serve.
These are core components of the
legitimacy and consent on which
policing in Scotland relies.
“Our presence in communities
is not defined by buildings but
by the officers and staff who
work there, and we have already
introduced technology that
enables our officers to remain in
local areas, reducing the need for
them to return to police stations to
deal with paperwork.”Leith Police Station