The Trust made a deputation to the council Culture and Communities Committee on 2 October in support of a motion on the Calton Hill Erosion Emergency. It was both a written deputation and a spoken one by Trust Chair Simon Holledge. The written deputation is here.
The text of the motion together with agreed amendments is as follows:
9.1 Motion by Councillor McFarlane – Calton Hill – Erosion Emergency
1. Notes that Calton Hill Conservation Trust have declared an ‘Erosion Emergency’ after a particularly dry summer resulting in substantial loss of grass and topsoil and ground compaction.
2. Recognises the success of a joint re-turfing project where 120 square meters of completely barren and eroded land in front of the National Monument was restored through partnership working between CEC Park Rangers, Calton Hill Conservation Trust members and corporate volunteers from Gleeds Property & Construction with funding from the University of Edinburgh Micro Grants and in-kind support from Edinburgh Council.
3. Understands that the substantive ‘call to action’ of CHCT is that Edinburgh Council engage with the trust to pursue an accelerated programme of re-seeding and re-turfing to assist with recovery.
4. Further understands that efforts of the Trust to reverse historic erosion have been hampered by inappropriate grass cutting practice.
5. Requests officers engage with all stakeholders to create a Calton Hill Management and Development Plan in line with our thriving green spaces 2050 project initiative which will help to capture the unique historical and natural heritage of this premier park.
6. Notes the constructive and positive working relationships between officers and the Calton Hill Conservation Trust;
7. Officers work with the Trust to discuss how erosion can be addressed;
8. Detail what works to the Hill by Council officers were carried out this year;
9. Report back to Committee the outcome of the above discussions in a business bulletin.
[Our emphasis]