‘Meadows summit’ plan after violence
A Scottish parliament hopeful has revealed plans to hold a ‘Meadows summit’ - after witnessing ‘scenes of violence, anti-social behaviour and urinating/defecating in neighbouring streets’ over the weekend.
Alex Orr, who lives near the Meadows and is standing on the Lothian regional list as an Snpcandidateintheupcoming Holyroodelections,wantscommunityleaders,politicians,and emergency services to come together at a summit and deal withtheissuessurroundingthe park. An open letter, penned by Mr Orr, wants city leaders to bear in mind the history of the Meadows, and preserve it for future generations.
It reads: “I was struck as to what our forefathers responsible for creating and attending this would have thought after witnessing the events in the Meadows on Saturday.
“Whatoccurredhasbeenwell documented, and I won’t spend much time on this, but the scenes of violence, anti-social behaviour and urinating/defecating in neighbouring streets andonthemeadowswassomething those of us living locally should not have to put up with. We have had enough.
“It should also be noted that this is not a one-off. Roseneath Placeforexampleiscommonly used effectively as a public toilet known as ‘the pee street’ and the rubbish left after such occasionsonthemeadowsisappalling.wearesickandtiredofhaving to go out and clean up and am sure council workers have better things to do.
“Without urgent action a long summer lies ahead and what is happening is in clear breach of the Covid-restrictions.
“I am conscious that this has been a difficult time for young people,especiallyontheirmental health, but behaviour like this cannot and should not be tolerated, especially as we are
going through a fragile Covidrecovery.
“The Meadows is now ‘the place’ to go for teenagers, with thousands congregating and clearly overwhelming police, who I have considerable sympathywithandareinanincredibly difficult situation.
“Large groups are in clear breachofthecovid-regulations anditshouldbenotedthatthese arenotjustlocalteenagers,with largenumbersarrivingintaxis/ using public transport.”
Incallingfora‘meadowssummit’, Mr Orr, who is the managing
director of Queens Streetbased PR company Orbit, suggests action could taken on licensing, bins, CCTV, toilets, and the deployment of park wardens.
Mr Orr’s letter continues: “A Meadows summit needs to be implemented very quickly to look at what can be done to try and prevent this happening again through delivering an action plan.
“Notsomethinginsix-months time, but now.
“Such a group could involve key representatives from the council – council officials and councillors - MPS; community councils, Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, retailers and police. This can clearly be pulled together very quickly given the wonders of modern technology.”
The SNP leader of Edinburgh City Council, Leith councillor Adam Mcvey, said: "We're working with partners to address the issues which contributed to the appalling scenes in the Meadows.”