Candidates standing for Edinburgh Council in Sighthill/Gorgie have set out plans to upgrade local parks, install more electric vehicle charging points and push for more affordable housing in the ward.
The ward includes Broomhouse, Dalry, Gorgie, Longstone, Parkhead, Saughton, Sighthill and Stenhouse and is represented by four councillors.
Since the creation of the multi-member voting system, voters have mainly elected Labour and SNP candidates in Sighthill/Gorgie, with the exception of one Liberal Democrat in 2007 and one Conservative, Ashley Graczyk, who was elected at the last election in 2017 but resigned from the group the following year.
READ MORE: Edinburgh Local Election 2022: Nicola Sturgeon hints at council deal with Greens
In 2017, just 39.8 per cent of eligible voters in the area participated with 8,493 valid ballots cast, which was the lowest turnout across the city's 17 wards.
Most notably, Labour's share of first preference votes (FPv) plummeted from 42 per cent to 12 per cent, losing a seat to the Conservatives, which came out on top with just under a fifth of all votes cast.
The SNP retained both seats it won in 2012 whilst incrasing its share of FPv by five per cent.
The Greens, although unsuccessful in having a councillor elected in the ward, were just 175 votes off the SNPs second candidate in the final round of counting, so the party is likely holding out hope to make gains here.
2017 results
Catherine Fullerton, SNP: 18.5% FPv (1,888 total)
Ashley Graczyk, Conservatives: 19.09% FPv (1,701 total)
Donald Wilson labour - 11.69% FPv (1,821.9 total)
Denis Dixon SNP - 14.01% FPv (1,621.8 total)
2022 Candidates
The SNP's Denis Dixon and Catherine Fullerton, both elected in 2012, are seeking re-election to Edinburgh City Council.
Ashley Graczyk, the first profoundly deaf member to be elected to the council, said she left the Conservatives in 2018 due to the UK Government's policies on disabilities being “incompatible" with her beliefs. Having served with no party affiliation since, she is standing to continue her work as an independent councillor.
Ms Graczyk plans to support community-led projects to upgrade local parks, paths and public spaces to make them more accessible and request a review of 'large and dangerous' potholes in the ward to seek emergency repairs if re-elected.
As long-serving councillor and former Lord Provost Donald Wilson steps down, the Labour candidate filling his spot is Ross McKenzie, a school nurse who moved to Edinburgh from Inverness 20 years ago.
Mr McKenzie said he'll prioritise improving public transport and building active travel infrastructure, and make the case for more affordable housing.
Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Mark Hooley is campaigning to tackle a range of local issues including fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.
And the Greens' Dan Heap wants to press the council for more electric vehicles around Sighthill/Gorgie, which he said voters have mentioned whilst he's been door-knocking during his campaign.
2022 candidates
Denis Dixon, Scottish National Party (SNP);
Catherine Fullerton, Scottish National Party (SNP);
Ashley Graczyk, Independent;
Dan Heap, Scottish Green Party;
David Henry, Alba Party for independence;
Mark Hooley, Scottish Conservative and Unionist;
Ross McKenzie, Scottish Labour Party;
Devin Scobie, Scottish Liberal Democrats;
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