[ACE] save the autonomous centre of edinburgh - URGENT!! - updated objection address

[ace at autonomous.org.uk]

SAVE THE AUTONOMOUS CENTRE OF EDINBURGH!

E MAIL OR WRITE TO EDINBURGH CITY COUNCIL

As you know the autonomous centre in edinburgh is now the only social  
centre left in scotland!!
We have been very lucky with our premises but now the landlord has put  
in a planning application to turn it into a flat.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would e mail or write to the  
Council planning department (address below) with a letter based on the  
attached template.  Personal letters are best obviously, but if you  
dont have time to do one, then it still really helps to send in the  
letter below, or one based on it.

If at all possible please write so that your letter would arrive for  
Friday 20th July or Monday 23rd July, failing that to arrive during  
the week ending Friday 27th.  If you get this message too late for  
that, please send your letter in anyway, as it is very possible the  
decision may be delayed.

In your letter or e mail,  please remember
- To include your  full name, POSTAL ADDRESS, the date, the planning  
reference number, and address of the premises.
- Be courteous!  Please remember you are writing to a council worker,  
not to the landlord!
- The comments have to be made to Edinburgh City Council, so when  
objecting to the planning application and praising the community  
facilities ACE provides,  please write in terms that the Council could  
identify with.

*please also send copies of emails to ace(at)autonomous.org.uk

Thanks very much!


ace has the following facilities:

free film screenings/ workshops including womens health, massage,  
screenprinting, desktop publishing, a make -your-own-short film course  
for black and asian women aged 16-18/ cheapest photocopying in town/  
free broadband access/ large library and archive/ various groups meet  
& operate there, edinburgh claimants (help and support for the  
unemployed and folk on low wages with benefits advice/ problems with  
their gas/electricity companies etc etc) , amina (help and support for  
muslim women), edinburgh chiapas solidarity group including fair trade  
coffee and products, womens health group putting on free courses,  
screenprinting collective, leith wholefood co-op, edinburgh IWW, and  
many others
we also have an extensive reference library of womens health books/  
information, leith wholefoods (supplying affordable organic wholefoods)

many thanks,
nosh, on behalf of ace

ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA

Tel 0131 557 6242

Open tues 1-4pm and saturday 10am - 6pm, plus for particular events  
and meetings.

ace at autonomous.org.uk

www.autonomous.org.uk

--------------------


SAMPLE LETTER OF OBJECTION

PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, THE DATE, AND THE  
PLANNING APPLICATION INFO, EVEN IN AN E MAIL, OTHERWISE THE COMMENTS  
WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

You can send exactly the message below, that would be great.  However  
personalising it makes it even more valuable.  If doing so, please  
remember the guidelines above, thanks.

------------------------------



YOUR NAME







YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS











DATE





To



kirsty.hope at edinburgh.gov.uk


Planning and Strategy Department
for the attention of Kirsty Hope
Waverley Court
Level G2
4 East Market St
Edinburgh EH8 8BG



Re Planning Application 07/02348/FUL

17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA



Dear Edinburgh City Council



I wish to object to the application for planning permission to convert  
the above property into a flat.  This would result in the loss of the  
valuable community facility currently provided in these premises.



I consider that the ACE charity operating in 17 West Montgomery Place  
provides a very useful resource in this neighbourhood, and serves a  
real local need.  The shop selling wholefood and fair trade products,  
the free internet and computer access, the advice given to people  
suffering debt and income-related problems, and many other facilities  
help many people, especially disadvantaged people.



The premises are used by several charities and voluntary groups, such  
as the Amina Group for Muslim women suffering domestic violence and  
other problems, and the Womens Health Workshops.



I understand that the Councils development policy, as outlined in the  
Edinburgh City Local Plan,  is to protect local shops, community halls  
and meeting rooms I would urge that this policy be adhered to, and  
that this planning application be refused.



Thank you for your attention to this matter.



Yours sincerely



SIGNATURE/ NAME



----------------------------------------------


If you could also send a copy of your message to the local councillors  
for the Leith Walk ward, that would be great.
Here are their details.

Councillor Angela Blacklock (Labour)
angela.blacklock at edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party)
deidre.brock at edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Maggie Chapman (Green Party)
maggie.chapman at edinburgh.gov.uk
as she is on holiday, please also send to
Councillor Alison Johnstone (Green Party)
alison.johnstone at edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Louise Lang (Liberal Democrats)
louise.lang at edinburgh.gov.uk


*please also send copies of emails to ace(at)autonomous.org.uk