Edinburgh Council candidates in Corstorphine/Murrayfield are calling for a new community centre, opposing residential parking charges and fighting for support for businesses impacted by roadworks.
Two incumbent ward councillors will step down next week as voters go to the polls to pick three local representatives to sit in the City Chambers for the next five years.
As well as covering Corstorphine and Murrayfield, the electoral boundary includes Balgreen, Broomhall, Carrick Knowe, Ravelston, Roseburn, Saughtonhall, Wester Broom and Orchard Brae South.
READ MORE: Edinburgh Election 2022: Inverleith voters promised public toilets and new recycling bins
The previous local election saw 59.7 per cent of eligible voters take part with 11,429 valid ballots cast — one of the highest turnouts in the city.
Since the introduction of the multi-member system in 2007, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have picked up seats here at each election, with the SNP also gaining a seat in 2012 and 2017.
In 2012 there were just 109 votes between Labour and Lib Dems for the third seat, however Labour saw their share of first preference votes (FPv) fall by over 12 per cent at the following election. If the party is to make a comeback after losing eight councillors across the capital last time, Corstorphine/Murrayfield could be an important battleground.
2017 Results
- Scott Douglas, Conservatives: 33.41% FPv (3,819 total)
- Gillian Gloyer, Liberal Democrats: 30.64% FPv (3502 total)
- Frank Ross, SNP: 21.65% FPv (2956 total)
2022 Candidates
The SNP's Frank Ross, who has served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh since 2017 and was the depute council leader before that, is the only current ward councillor vying for another five years in the chambers.
If re-elected his priorities will be delivering a community centre, which he said the ward "currently lacks", and focus on the Community Asset Transfer of Corstorphine's Westfield House.
Hugh Findlay for the Conservatives said he will oppose proposals for residential parking permits if voted in.
Both Mr Findlay and Labour candidate Richard Parker have backed calls for businesses on Roseburn Terrace impacted by roadworks in place for the new City Centre West East Link (CCWEL) to receive compensation from the council.
Mr Parker recently launched a petition in favour of financial help for the affected traders, some of which claimed the construction works had resulted in income falling by up to 70 per cent, despite Labour councillors opposing a compensation scheme last month.
Meanwhile, the Lib Dems are the only party to have put forward two candidates, social worker Euan Davidson and Alan Beal, who works as an energy/housing consultant and is also a street pastor.
And the Greens' Connal Hughes said he wants to concentrate on "making journeys safer" and "protecting our vital green space" if elected to the council.
All candidates standing in Corstorphine/Murrayfield:
Alan Christopher Beal, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
Norman David Colville, Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life;
Euan Robert Davidson, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
Hugh Findlay, Scottish Conservative and Unionist;
Connal Hughes, Scottish Green Party;
Richard Parker, Scottish Labour Party;
Frank Ross, Scottish National Party (SNP);
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