Residents urged to help shape future of Edinburgh

RESIDENTS, school students and business people in the capital are being asked to help shape the city’s future with the launch of the Edinburgh Vision 2050 blueprint.

The city was 13th in the world on overall sustainability. However, in the “people” section, based on quality of life, it finished 38th, said report author design consultancy Arcadis.

The city was sixth in the world in the profit section of the Sustainable Cities Index but its 22nd position in the world for “planet”, or environment, made it worst in UK.

Now people are being asked their views on what needs to change for the better before a map is put together outlining the way ahead and top projects.

Once established, the long-term plan will help shape policy and tackle inequality in a city where the 100-plus attendees including business and government representatives heard claims it has “as many children growing up in poverty as in private education”.

A city-wide campaign will run until December then a draft document will be produced based on the responses received before being refined, agreed and published next summer.

Andrew Kerr, Edinburgh City Council chief executive, said: “As Scotland’s capital city, we have much to be proud of and positive about but we need to start thinking seriously about what we want Edinburgh to look like in 10, 20, even 30 years’ time .

“A City Vision for Edinburgh – based on the true aspirations of people of all ages who live, work and study in the capital – will provide all of us with a clear, long-term plan to guide strategy and investment for years to come.

“We are starting with a blank canvas.

“This will not be a council vision, rather our role will be to facilitate and support citywide collaboration and debate.”