Public toilets for parks, new recycling bins and more community spaces are among the promises being made by Inverleith candidates ahead of the Edinburgh Council election next week.
The ward, which covers Stockbridge, Blackhall, Comely Bank, Craigleith, Dean Village, Drylaw, Inverleith, Orchard Brae, Warriston and part of Canonmills, is one of the most contested in the city with 10 candidates standing.
Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, May 5 to pick four councillors.
The 2017 vote saw a turnout of 56.5 per cent in the area with 13,567 valid ballots cast.
For the first time, the Conservatives successfully had two councillors elected in Inverleith, whilst the Liberal Democrats made a comeback after losing a seat in 2012 and Labour's share of first preference votes (FPv) more than halved.
Meanwhile, the SNP also increased their vote share and the Greens failed to hold onto a seat, however were within fewer than 300 votes of the Tories in the final round of counting - so will be hoping to make up lost ground in the ward.
2017 Results
- Hal Osler, Liberal Democrats: 16.59% FPv (2870 total)
- Max Mitchell, Conservatives : 19.79% FPv (2840 total)
- Gavin Barrie, SNP: 18.96% (2811 total)
- Iain Whyte, Conservatives: 17.12% (3103 total)
2022 Candidates
The Conservatives' Max Mitchell and Lib Dems' Hal Osler, who since both being elected in 2017 have worked together on some local issues such as tackling flooding problems in Inverleith Park, will both be on the ballot again.
Cllr Osler's priorities if voted in again will be to review community policing so there is "more presence at a local level to address residents' concerns", support the implementation of 20mph speed limits in the ward and repair and upgrade recycling bins.
Conservative group leader Iain Whyte, who has represented the ward in the City Chambers since 2007, will seek another term on the council but not in Inverleith, standing in the eastern Craigentinny/Duddingston ward instead.
After the SNP's Gavin Barrie stepped down from the group in 2018, serving the rest of the term as a member of the newly-formed but soon to be disbanded Edinburgh Party of Independent Councillors (EPIC), Vicky Nicolson, a local area co-ordinator for Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, will take his spot as the SNP's Inverleith candidate.
For Labour is Mhairi Munro-Brian, who's calling for "permanent, good quality, accessible public toilets and baby changing facilities" in Inverleith Park.
And the Greens' ward candidate, Jule Bandel, who moved to Edinburgh from Germany over 10 years ago, said she will push for local climate action to reduce the impact of flooding in Stockbridge and Canonmills and "better community spaces and amenities in local parks and green spaces".
All candidates standing in Inverleith:
Jule Bandel, Scottish Green Party;
Stuart Herring, Scottish Conservative and Unionist;
Phil Holden, Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life;
Tam Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party;
Stephen McNamara, Independent;
Max Mitchell, Scottish Conservative and Unionist;
Mhairi Munro-Brian, Labour and Co-operative Party;
Vicky Nicolson, Scottish National Party (SNP);
Hal Osler, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
Malcolm Alexander Wood, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
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