Edinburgh Council candidates in Drum Brae/Gyle have set out plans to ease congestion around schools, fill-in potholes and create safer cycle routes.
On May 5 voters will pick three councillors from a list of eight hopefuls standing in the ward, two of which are bidding for re-election to the City of Edinburgh Council.
The ward contains several west Edinburgh communities including Bughtlin, Clermiston, Clerwood, Craigmount, Drumbrae, East and West Craigs, Gogarloch, Maybury, North and South Gyle, Parkgrove, Forrester and the Edinburgh Park commercial district.
At the last local election in 2017, Drum Brae/Gyle's electorate was 18,321 and just over half (52.2%) turned out to vote.
Like other wards in the west of the city there has been consistent support for the Liberal Democrats in the area; the party got 33.5 per cent of first preference votes (FPv) five years ago and 54.7 per cent of the vote in Edinburgh Western — Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton's constituency which includes Drum Brae/Gyle — at last year's Holyrood election.
The SNP have also had councillors elected in the ward since the introduction of the multi-member system in 2007, gaining a comfortable 26.8 per cent of FPv last time.
And the Conservatives will be hoping to hold onto a seat gained there in 2017 following a dip in support for Labour, which came first in 2012 despite getting the lowest number of total votes of all elected candidates, having been the first choice of more than a quarter of voters.
2017 Result
- Robert Alridge, Liberal Democrats: 33.5% FPv (3, 176 total)
- Claire Bridgman, SNP: 26.8% FPv (2,541 total)
- Mark Brown, Conservatives: 22% FPv (2,411)
2022 Candidates
Lib Dem group leader on Edinburgh Council, Robert Aldridge, has represented Drum Brae/Gyle for the last 15 years and is hoping to secure a fourth term on the council. The only party standing two candidates, he is joined on the ballot by Edward Thornley.
Together they are campaigning for more investment in parks and greenspaces, a lights-controlled crossing at the junction of Drum Brae North and Drum Brae Drive and the return of the pre-pandemic timetable for the Number 12 bus.
In addition, they're calling for investment in infrastructure to combat 'overcrowded schools and traffic congestion'.
Meanwhile, Tory councillor Mark Brown is bidding for re-election by focusing on local issues including fly-tipping, dog fouling and potholed roads.
He was endorsed recently by Claire Bridgman, who was elected as an SNP councillor in the ward in 2017 but resigned from the party the following year to become an independent.
Cllr Bridgman, who is not standing for re-election, said: "Whilst Mark and I may differ on certain political issues, what can’t be denied is that Mark is a hard working Councillor, who over the past five years has worked tirelessly for the residents of Drumbrae/Gyle, and supported our local schools and numerous groups across the communities within the ward.
“If you are looking for a Councillor who will stand up our for our community, be tenacious and hold the Council to account, give one of your preference votes to Mark on May 5th - even if you are someone who doesn’t typically vote ‘Blue’.”
The SNP are standing Euan Hyslop, convenor of the party's Edinburgh Western branch, in the ward.
Meanwhile, Labour's Nkechi Okoro says she will "focus on much needed education, health and transport provision for the ward" if elected, whilst Anne Scott for the Green Party is campaigning to reduce congestion around schools in the area.
All candidates standing in Drum Brae/Gyle:
- Robert Christopher Aldridge, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
- Mark Brown, Scottish Conservative and Unionist;
- Euan Hyslop, Scottish National Party (SNP);
- Eileen Johnston, Scottish Family Party: Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life;
- Nkechi Okoro, Labour and Co-operative Party;
- Anne Scott, Scottish Green Party;
- Gary Smith, Scottish Libertarian Party;
- Edward John Thornley, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
