The Cockburn Association Marion Williams Director

Brief History of the Cockburn Association The Cockburn Association was founded in 1875. It is named after the late Lord Henry Cockburn (1779-1854) who campaigned to protect and enhance the beauty of Edinburgh. The first major campaign by the Association was to resist the removal of trees at Bruntsfield Links and the Cockburn has campaigned for the retention and improvement of Edinburgh's open and green spaces ever since. Many of the Association's campaigns have required considerable patience and determination. In 1877 the Association campaigned to bring land along the Water of Leith into public use and some 98 years later we saw success with the opening of the Water of Leith Walkway. The Association was also instrumental in opposing some of the damaging plans for inner city highways and Edinburgh, as a result, has been left unsullied by inner city motorways. The Association has long been a pioneering supporter of sustainable modes of transport including public transport systems. In 1964, with the introduction of the Civic Amenities (Scotland) Act, the Cockburn Association adopted the sub title of The Edinburgh Civic Trust as recognition of the growing support for good planning and conservation across all of Scotland.

A Vision for Edinburgh … a growing city with increasing pressure from economic development and tourism

Edinburgh – Festival City Christmas, Hogmanay, film, science, imaginate, fringe, book, jazz, art, storytelling, tattoo, international, Mela….

Edinburgh – pressure of growth student accommodation, hotels …… housing & infrastructure The Cockburn Association believes the Edinburgh Green Belt has influenced the growth of the city in beneficial ways and, if left intact, could continue to do so, by encouraging more use of brownfield land and building at higher densities. It also helps to protect landscapes, maintains the identity of settlements by preventing their coalescence, offers opportunities for recreation and contributes greatly towards a good quality of life…

Edinburgh Housing How many, where, for whom?

Edinburgh Housing Edinburgh is a compact city of 105sq. miles with a population of nearly 500,000 people How much further should it grow?

Edinburgh Housing The Green Belt surrounding Edinburgh varies in width from 1/4 mile to 4.5 miles. Proposed Local Development Plans (LDP) will pierce the Green Belt at Edinburgh Airport, Brunstane, Straiton and elsewhere… To what extent should the Green Belt be protected?