PUBLIC MEETING
Introduction

LOCAL CITIZENS SAFEGUARD 50 MILLION POUND INVESTMENT

Our streets are the setting for our most valuable assets. Streets are the only public service that everyone uses every day. And yet ...

Prompted by the rapid development of brownfield sites along Dryden Street, Edinburgh, local citizens initiated the Dryden Street Streetscape Refurbishment Study earlier this year, which has just reached the conclusion of its first phase with the exhibition JOINING THE DOTS at McDonald Road Library and a Public Meeting at Pilrig St Paul's Church Hall.

The study brings together three elements:

• research into the multi-layered history of Dryden Street, dominated by commerce and transport and proposals for restoration of a unique tram lighting pole, the only complete one of its kind in Edinburgh
• description of the intense development taking place there at the moment, quadrupling its population to 500 households
• and proposals for improving its streetscape, as an end in itself and to forge a sense of community between existing and new residents of the street

A public meeting with Dryden Street users and residents will take place on Wednesday, 14 November, 7pm at Pilrig St Paul's Church Hall (Pilrig Street).

Mark Lazarowicz, MP North Edinburgh & Leith, said: "I welcome the launch of the Dryden Street Streetscape Refurbishment Study. The new developments taking place in the Dryden Street area present a real opportunity to improve the streetscape of what will be a major through route for pedestrians and cyclists. I hope that all Council departments and other agencies involved will provide all the support they can for this initiative from the local community."

Harald Tobermann, project manager Dryden Street Streetscape Refurbishment Study, said: "This study demonstrates the importance of following through and capitalising on opportunities that are created by development. The new Dryden Street residents will add c. £400,000 pa to the Council Tax take for Pilrig. Without intervention, the new developments will create social and physical discontinuities, resulting in less income for the Council and storing up future problems. We mustn't create another Pilrig Muddle."

The Urban Design Alliance said: "Streets are important:

• they account for about 80 per cent of public open space in urban areas.
• they provide the setting for thousands of billions of pounds worth of property,
• they are the routes for sewage, waste, electricity, communications, gas, and clean water
• streets are where the private world ends and the community starts
• streets are in essence a large portion of our lives."
  
  From Designing Streets for People

Notes

• £50m is the estimated value of the residential housing along Dryden Street after completion of all projected development.
• Pilrig Muddle: refers to the historic discontinuity of the Edinburgh and Leith tram services. Leith's system was electric, while Edinburgh's trams were cable-drawn (using a similar system to the one in San Francisco). This forced passengers travelling along Leith Walk to disembark and change trams at Pilrig Street, the site of the Pilrig Muddle.