Edinburgh’s private parks should be opened to the public – Angus Robertson

It is grotesque that people are not allowed into the majority of park space in central Edinburgh, writes Angus Robertson.

The New Town's gardens are not open to the general public (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

CEntral Edinburgh is famed for its beautiful architecture and also its gardens. From Calton Hill, throughout the New Town and along the Water of Leith, there are a series of pristine and well-kept green spaces.

These are not open to the public however, and access needs to be paid for by residents who pay an annual fee to become key-holders. The fees pay for the gardeners who do a wonderful job maintaining the grounds which are often next to empty.

Just at a time when we are being advised to get out once a day during the coronavirus lockdown, it is grotesque that the public is not allowed access to the majority of park space in the centre of our capital. Anyone who has recently tried to abide by the social distancing rules from the Meadows to Inverleith Park knows that there are days when that is next to impossible because they are so heavily used.

Covid-19 has made most companies and organisations think the unthinkable and change how they operate. Some stores are giving priority access to NHS workers, some firms are providing free services to frontline health and care-staff, all essential workers are being applauded by the public every Thursday. Why then are these people, and frankly everybody else, being excluded from the majority of Edinburgh’s city centre gardens at a time of national crisis when we are being advised to get out once a day for our mental and physical health?

It cannot be beyond the wit of garden secretaries and management committees to open Edinburgh’s private gardens to the public – even if it is just at designated times.