Press Release 18 June 09
Save Our Old Town leads the way for Old Town Development Trust
Edinburgh's SOOT (Save Our Old Town) is pressing ahead with moves to establish a community backed Old Town Development Trust.
SOOT is contacting groups, organisations and individuals in the Old Town and will host a meeting later this month to start discussions. It is expected that ideas, plans and agreement will crystallise over the summer and that a public meeting after the Festival will formally agree the Community Trust's creation.
" Many Old Town properties are empty, under used, in disrepair or being left to decay, yet there is a growing need for family sized homes", says SOOT secretary Sally Richardson.
"We are proud of the Old Town and appreciate it qualities but we are also very aware that it can be improved upon, but we feel without the need for garish new developments and demolitions."
We see that it is stewardship in hand with community led, incremental small developments that is sorely needed. This is where a development trust or trusts can be helpful."
Catriona Grant, Chair of SOOT added “SOOT are very interested in being part of such a trust and would like to invite all individuals, groups, resident associations and similar from all over the Old Town and beyond to come along and meet with others interested in setting up an Old Town Development Trust.”
Last year SOOT carried out The Canongate Project, 6 weeks of community consultation and action research, funded by Scottish Communities. As part of the project Wendy Reid of Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) , explained how communities can take control of their assets and be involved in community development.
Ian Cooke the DTAS Director will be in attendance at the meeting held in Augustine United church, June 23rd and will be on hand to answer people's questions.
If you live in or have views about how living in Edinburgh's Old Town can be stimulated and improved this is a great time to join with residents and socially aware professionals to become involved in an exciting opportunity to improve City Centre life.
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Notes to editors
SOOT (Save Our Old Town -Edinburgh) is a community based group, founded 2005 in response to the “Caltongate” plans by Mountgrange Developers http://www.eh8.org.uk/
Meeting Details
Augustine United Church , George IV Bridge
Tuesday 23rd June 2009 7.30pm – 9.30pm . Doors open 7pm
“Development trusts offer a fresh approach to community regeneration. Independent and under community control, these organisations draw together the energy, commitment and creativity of local people to tackle local issues. Through enterprise and the ownership of local assets, development trusts address the economic, social, cultural and environmental needs of their communities.” - Development Trusts Association Scotland – statement on their website. http://www.dtascot.org.uk/