Who We Are and What We Do

Welcome to our website, which was made possible by a grant from City of Edinburgh Council South Local Development Committee.  They have secured a number of grants for us since the Association was founded and we are extrememly grateful for their support (see useful information page for contact details).

We hope that you will find our website both useful and informative, but above all enjoyable! 

We are a local community Association, with charitable status, covering the Craigmillar Park Conservation Area (see map below).

Originally the Association was formed in 1997, by Ian McLean, our first Chairman, to try to preserve the Playing Field in East Suffolk Road from development.  At that time there was an application to build 58 units on the field, which would have involved the permanent loss of this valuable green space, as well as the demolition of the picturesque Pavilion.   

 

It was a hard fight but with the help of all those who objected we finally won. Historic Scotland eventually listed the Pavilion, as it is in the curtilage of the former Halls of Residence in Newington Campus, now East Suffolk Park, and we are delighted that the Playing Field was designated as Open Space in the 2007 Edinburgh City Local Plan.   In August 2007, St Margaret's School leased the Playing Field and so it is a fitting conclusion to the story that it will be returned to its original use for the forseeable future. 

The current Committee Members and Advisors are kept pretty busy.  We try to keep an eye on the weekly planning lists and object or make comments if we deem it appropriate.  We also look into matters brought to our attention by Members and local residents.  We keep in close touch with our MP, MSP and local Councillors.  We also take a keen interest in the traffic plans and try to gather views from the local residents on all matters relating to our area.   Please see our Constitution below. 

Our aim is to preserve and enhance our surroundings for future generations in what is now a larger but more rational and manageable Conservation Area.    

The Association produces two Newsletters a year (printed by Jonathan Tait at Horizon, 36 Mayfield Gardens) and the articles from the most recent of these Newsletters are available to read on the website. The Newsletter was first published with a grant from Edinburgh Council and is now just about self financing with the money that we get from annual subscriptions (see Membership page). 

As we mentioned, the website, like the Newsletter, was started with a grant from Edinburgh Council.  It will bring you information about what is going on in the area and has a contact link for you to get in touch with us too. There are also links to various departments in the Council, other Associations and bodies that we think might be of interest to residents.  We will also give information about your local politicians and other services (see Useful Information & Links page). 

Any feedback through our Contact Us page would be most welcome. 

Our AGM is usually held in one of the halls of St. Margaret’s School each November.  We are most grateful for the continued support of St. Margaret’s School.
http://www.st-margarets.edin.sch.uk/ 

Committee Members and Advisors
Photographs and biographies of the 2009-2010 Commitee will be posted below as soon as possible.

 For further information please contact us