Dereliction on the Water of Leith

We've taken to having a quick wander down the 'other' side of the Water of Leith, as light relief from grant writing. This has revealed some interesting photo opportunities which nicely illustrate the multiple layers of human occupation and activity in this part of Leith, over centuries.

I took something very much like this photo last week, and put it on Facebook and got some good comments, so thought I would try it again. It is a derelict warehouse, right on the edge of the Water of Leith and visible only from the other side. We heard about a planning application to demolish that warehouse (which I would love to buy and do up!), and various other commercial premises in a bend of the river opposite our development. The plans don't look too bad in themselves, but they take away from the variety of land usage which is characteristic of this area and which is supposed to be preserved by the Bonnington area usage plan or development brief, or whatever it is called. Interestingly, when I read the planning application documents, there was a report from the archaeologists which indicated that there was potentially some very interesting stuff underneath the current buildings (occupied by the Thyssen lift people on South Fort Street). I don't want this area prettified. I love the variety of stuff to see and appreciate. And above all, I agree with the commentators (from Greener Leith, I think) who said that it was important not to demolish the existing structures until plans and money were in place to create the new ones. The last thing we want is another void.

Happily in September 2011, the application to demolish was rejected until progress is made on a plan for further archaelogical investigation of this apparently important site.