It's a cardinal sin to let this development go forward
Sept 11, 2006
The head of the Catholic Church in Scotland has joined a mass of protesters opposed to plans for 100 new homes in Morningside.
(Scotsman, 14 Aug 2006) Cardinal Keith O'Brien has lodged an official objection to the plans for the former Woodcroft telephone exchange on Pitsligo Road over road safety fears.
The development has been recommended for approval by city councillors despite a flood of objections from local residents and Historic Scotland.
In a letter to the council, Cardinal O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, who lives in nearby Greenhill Gardens urged planners to throw-out the scheme.
He wrote: "It is not a prospect I consider with any great joy to realise that 100 new dwelling houses will be built in the area previously occupied by the telephone exchange.
"I simply do not know how the surrounding roads and junctions will cope with the increased level of traffic in what is, indeed, a conservation area.
"I would, indeed, ask you to seriously consider this proposed development with your advisers and, hopefully, come to a decision that this proposed development cannot and should not go-ahead."
The telephone exchange would be converted in 66 flats and another 25 flats and nine townhouses built elsewhere on the site under the plans.
While some support the principal of the proposal, submitted by Telereal Services Ltd, locals have claimed the scheme will lead to overdevelopment of the site, have an adverse effect on listed buildings in the area and cause road safety problems.
John Lennie, chairman of the Greenhill and Church Hill Amenity Association, welcomed the reversion of the site to residential use but claimed that this particular plan represented "an intensity of development rarely achieved in the past in any conservation area".
He said: "Once a project such as this reaches completion, the applicants take their gains and depart, leaving the neighbourhood to adjust to the changes in their vicinity more or less in perpetuity.
"On balance, we find this proposal has failed to consider important aspects of the surroundings, and we consider it should be significantly modified prior to approval."
Desmond Hodges of Merchiston Community Council said that while the conversion of the telephone exchange to flats would lead to a "visual improvement", members were concerned about a significant increase in traffic.
The area, claimed Christine Law of Eden Lane, could not cope with the extra number of cars and she raised fears over the safety of schoolchildren walking in the area.
Karina Reinhardt, of Falcon Gardens, said: "Overall I think this development is just a money-making scheme and will not enhance the local community in any way, nor will it be in keeping with the appearance of the area.
"In the future it will adversely affect the area. Putting more houses into small areas with not enough local facilities and not the capacity to cope with it just seems like an absolutely ridiculous idea."
But in a report to councillors recommending approval, planning head Alan Henderson said initial reservations about the quality of the conversion had been resolved with an amended plan and that transport officials had no objections.
"The proposal now represents a competent conversion of the office, with little alteration to its architectural concept. New build elements are minimal in relation to the large site area. It is accepted there will be a localised change in character at the north-west corner, but the overall effect remains in character with the conservation area."
A spokeswoman for Telereal said: "The property is surplus to BT's operational requirements and Telereal is pursuing a planning application for alternative use."
The Scottish Executive will have the final say over whether listed building consent is given to the development.
It's a cardinal sin to let this development go forward