Bid to open up Edinburgh's large private gardens to public rejected by councillors

A proposal to open some of Edinburgh’s huge private gardens to the public has been voted down by councillors.

The Scottish Greens put forward a motion calling for the consideration of a scheme for shared private green spaces, such as Queen Street Gardens, to be opened voluntarily to the public.

Councillor Dan Heap cited “the health benefits of green areas”, with the party claiming the local authority could help owners’ associations with any additional maintenance, cleaning and insurance requirements.

They also highlighted the example of St Andrew Square, where the public has had access to the private garden since 2008.

The party says the proposal could have helped tackle unequal access to green space in Edinburgh, particularly for people living in tenements, flats and built-up areas without gardens of their own.

However, the convener of the culture and communities committee said on Monday, after the plans were knocked back, the spaces are essentially “back gardens” for residents in the area.

Scottish Greens communities spokesperson, Cllr Heap, said: “Today was a missed opportunity for Edinburgh. Our proposal was modest, practical and rooted in common sense.

“We were not asking the council to force gardens open.

“We were asking officials to explore how a voluntary scheme could work, with proper support for owners around maintenance, cleaning and insurance.

“St Andrew Square is a private garden, but the public have rightly had access to it since 2008.

“It shows that this kind of approach can work, and it is disappointing that councillors have chosen not to even explore it.

“Edinburgh should be a city that works for everyone, not just those wealthy enough to live beside park-sized private gardens.

“Greens will keep working for a fairer city where access to nature is based on need, not property wealth.”

Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convenor, said: “I am pleased that the committee agreed no action on this.

“I appreciate there are a variety of views on this subject but these gardens and green spaces belong to residents in these areas and are treasured and well looked after private gardens.

“For some who live in our city centre, these green spaces are, for all intents and purposes, their back garden.

“It wouldn’t be right to open these green spaces for all.

“Edinburgh is one of the greenest cities in the UK and Europe, and every community in our city has access to world-class parks and green spaces on their doorstep – which are open and accessible to all.”