A plan to build over 150 flats on the land around the Balmwell restaurant and pub in Liberton are being fought by local residents and our local MP and councillor Ian Murray.

Nigel Griffiths went round the doors with a petition before the closing date expired for objections to this development.

This site was owned by the Council, but local councillor Ian Murray is furious: "This is a green lung in the heart of the area. I was not even consulted about this, and I object to the council doing land deals behind the backs of local people and local councillors."

Ian has circulated a petition round local residents and he went door-to-door with Nigel Griffiths MP last week collecting signatures against the development.

New social housing and low cost housing has already been built locally in Southhouse, Gracemount and Hyvots. These new-builds were on land which was already in use, not on park land like the area around the Balmwell.

Councillor Norma Hart agreed to present the petitons to the Liberal Democrat councillor who chairs the Planning Committee.  This application has been rejected, but Nigel is gearing up to fight an appeal from the developer.