The latest unforeseen consequence of Edinburgh's tram project is the possible sale of former allotment land at Balgreen. To make up a shortfall in the budget the Council proposes to sell off for housing various packages of land including this site. This comes just as hopes were rising that Balgreen Allotments, closed 10 years ago and left to run to seed, would form part of a programme of expansion of allotment land in response to the inexorable rise in the number of citizens wishing to look after a plot and grow their own.
The Council cannot be allowed to follow this shortsighted course. Once the land is built on it is lost forever as green space. Indeed, it is currently zoned as such and the Council will have to apply to themselves for Planning permission. This is where you can get involved. FEDAGA calls upon everyone concerned about the environment and the shortage of allotment provision to lobby their Councillors to prevent this happening. Watch this space.