Locals rejoice as investigations into Moredun green space housing development suspended

Residents have said they look forward to working with the council.

Local residents camped out on the green for days to protest the site investigations. Picture: Lisa Ferguson residents George and Sue are camping out in the park along with other residents Moredun residents campaign to save thier park from developers who want to build flats on site

Liberton residents have celebrated the end of a two-week campaign against a possible council housing development on a local green space.

Locals have been camping in protest on Moredunvale Green to prevent site investigations into future housing development.

Campaigners are now claiming victory as the council has said it will suspend current site investigations and engage with the local community regarding the possible development plans.

Local residents campaign against the possible development.

“It’s absolutely fantastic and we’re all really delighted,” said secretary of the Moredun Multis and Maisonettes Residents’ Association Neil Hansen.

“It shows that people power really does work.”

While the council has said only that the current site investigations have been suspended, Mr Hansen is optimistic that the operation will not re-start in the near future.

“I strongly suspect that if this has happened once they may not try again. The community has made it clear how much they value this space.” he said.

The residents’ association will ‘not become complacent’, Mr Hansen said, and will continue to distribute leaflets and circulate its petition against the possible development, which has gained 1,500 signatures.

“I look forward to working with the council and seeing how the park can be developed, and not destroyed,” he said.

He added that the first priority of the campaign will now be to elicit a guarantee from the council that there will be no housing development on the site, and the second to arrange a different kind of development, in terms of investment and maintenance as a green space.

Rachel Thomson, 31, who lives in one of the high-rise blocks of flats beside the green, has been campaigning against the site investigations and spent several nights camping on the green with her two daughters.

She said the move is ‘really good news’, but that she is still wary of future development plans.

She intends to keep checking for signs of equipment or contractors working on the green, and will work towards future investment in the site.

Edinburgh City Council has been contacted for comment.