Persevere - Leith's Coat of Arms returns after 90 Years

Ninety two years after Leith was merged with Edinburgh the proud burgh is set to officially regain its historic coat of arms.

At a bestowal ceremony tomorrow at Leith Library the 'Armorial Bearings' of Leith will be presented to the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership following a campaign to reclaim this iconic part of Leith's history.

The picture above shows the recently erected flag pole on Leith Library (itself celebrating it's 80th birthday this week) which tomorrow will see a flag bearing the burgh's armorial bearings raised to officially conclude the first part of the campaign to see this symbol of Leith used more widely and correctly in the community.

The idea of reclaiming the coat of arms has been kicking about for a number of years. The guerilla action of erecting a 'Welcome to Leith' sign which bears a version of the coat of arms was a part of that. More recently when Leith Academy (which has it's own coat of arms) celebrated its 450th Anniversary two years ago pupils raised a petition calling on steps to be taken to return the coat of arms of Leith to the community. The petition was presented to me when I held the posts of Deputy Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Leith Councillor. Support was sought from the City of Edinburgh Council and the Lord Lyon (who's job it is to care for and oversee the use of all things heraldic in Scotland) was approached. When Leith had been absorbed the City Council had not taken over the arms and they had therefore come into the care of the Lord Lyon. In order to reclaim them a petition would have to be raised to the Court of the Lord Lyon. 

After discussion it was decided that the appropriate body to apply for the return of the arms would be Leith Neighbourhood Partnership which covers the Leith & Leith Walk Council wards and involves the three Leith Community Councils in its work. As it happens members of the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership had been underwhelmed by the bland logo they had and the ability to use the historic coat of arms was one that was compelling. 

So to conclude tomorrow will mark the end of that chapter - the regaining of the coat of arms. It will no doubt see that start of a new chapter as with the introduction of the flag it is hoped that other buildings will soon be able to fly the flag and proudly display the historic symbol of Leith. 

Rob Munn was Deputy Lord Provost of Edinburgh 2007-2012, Councillor for Leith ward 2007-2012 and Councillor for Leith Harbour ward 1996-2003.

A Vision for Leith Walk

A Vision for Leith Walk

Leith Walk has had a hard time of it lately with the scars of abortive Tram works all too visible along with gap tooth development sites stalled due to the economic downturn. All this could lead to a gloomy and downcast future for 'the Walk'. 

The fallout of the tram stopping at York Place means that later this year reinstatement works will begin to reinstate Leith Walk to what was there prior to the incursions of the Tram works. This in practical terms means replacing what are temporary traffic lights at various junctions, repairing foot-ways and the road itself which is in a terrible condition. All well a good but shouldn't the vision be raised? If Trams ain't coming any time soon can something more inspiring not be done?

These are the questions that are being asked by the local community council, the Leith Business Association (formed largely by Leith Walk traders), Greener Leith, Leith Open Space and a variety of other organisations and individuals.

Leith Walk has had a number of things 'done' to it over the years - most well intentioned but often with little or absolutely no consultation with locals and also little in the way of sustainability (remember when Lothian Regional Council put in trees but with no budget for maintenance many struggled to find water and died - thankfully this was later rectified and those that remain are liked). Because the rectifying works won't start until the end of the year these is an opportunity to pause and do that rare thing, consult on the aspirations for Leith walk so that even the most practical of reinstatement works can have an eye to the future and hopefully allow an organic development of the street to make it a great place to be.

That pre planning was kicked off a month or so ago when the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership held its last Public Meeting on the subject of Leith Walk. There was a presentation by Riccardo Marini the Council's Design Leader on place making which strayed far from the usual kind of presentation citizens are used to from Council officials. A lively discussion flowed from that and at the back of the hall there was a small interim exhibition from 'Sustainable Transformations' from students of Edinburgh University's Advanced Sustainable Design Masters Program.

Tomorrow night the 'Sustainable Transformations' exhibition will open at Out of The Blue in Dalmeny Street. Greener Leith have said that they hope that the exhibition will 'stimulate and provoke a debate as to what a future Leith could be.' The future of Leith Walk, which was described in charettes (planning workshops) for the Leith Area Development Framework as a 'Great City Street', is central to that. Some have likened Leith walk to the Ramblas in Barcelona and as a place to be, a place to visit, a place to live, work and socialise Leith Walk could lay claim to be one of the distinctive streets of the world. It certainly has a lot going on with the micro arts festival 'Leith Late' centring its events there next month. 

Sustainable Transformations will be followed up on June 5th by a meeting jointly organised by Greener Leith and Leith Open Space entitled 'Your Vision for Leith Walk' again at Out of the Blue from 6pm until 9pm. It is envisaged that this meeting will allow locals to have their voice and their ideas heard in creating a vision for the Walk.

There is a real opportunity to shape the future of Leith Walk both for those that live and work locally and for those who visit to shop or socialise there. Get involved in these discussions (the Leith Neigbourhood Partnership will be holding another meeting on this subject at a later date) and help put the great into Leith Walk.

Updates: the Edinburgh Eye blog http://edinburgheye.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/leith-walk-out-of-the-blue/ has more on this issue and a good graphic of Leith & Leith Walk showing linkages and communities of interest.
Couple of thoughts that have come to me after writing this blog - traffic management - should a separate cycle lane be put in for the length of Leith Walk keeping cyclists safe a separate from motor vehicles? Can this and the option of future rapid transit link to tram be 'future-proofed'? (to minimise future installation disruption). Public Square - Is there an option of creating a public square at Shrubhill where there are two large stalled development projects - potential to create a 'heart' or middle to Leith Walk. Could be a carbon gain from a site long associated with old diesel buses and a long lost petrol station. Trees and a gathering point, potential for street performance, markets, life!