Lib Dem petition to protect South Edinburgh's green belt signed by 300

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 15th Oct 2008

300 people have now signed the petition launched by the Liberal Democrats to protect the green belt in and around Braid Hills. Developers plan to build hundreds of new houses on four areas of green belt in South Edinburgh. These plans were rejected by the City Planning Committee in October 2007, but a public inquiry into the issue has now begun and will continue until December.

Fred Mackintosh, who has led the Liberal Democrat campaign, says "Edinburgh does need more family housing, but I am firmly of the view that sites on former industrial land in the centre and north of the city should be developed instead of the narrow greenbelt in South Edinburgh."

The two reporters presiding over the public inquiry will report to the Planning Committee in spring 2008. There is a chance that they may recommend some development in and around Braid Hills. It is therefore crucial that we continue to demonstrate the public's opposition to these plans to build on South Edinburgh's green belt. The Liberal Democrats intend to gather more signatures so that a strong petition can be presented to the Planning Committee in the new year.