The Westside Plaza in Wester Hailes has been at the heart of the working class community for decades with locals relying on the space to meet their daily needs.
But over the past couple of decades the shopping centre has seen a downturn in its fortunes with shop units closing or changing hands regularly. The loss of services have been problematic for those that have come to rely upon the space.
Speaking to locals at the centre, it was clear to see that many wanted to see reinvestment. So when I headed down, it was encouraging to see how spaces that would formerly have lay vacant after businesses moved out were renovated to offer innovative vital services for the community.
READ MORE: Edinburgh locals recall life on a lost city street that completely disappeared
I used to live in Clovenstone, around a five-minute walk from the centre at the tail end of the 1990’s. Back then it seemed run down, a little dirty and at times a threatening space for a young person.
What took me aback when walking around in the early hours of a Wednesday morning was how clean the Plaza was. Both floors were spotless and the public bathrooms were gleaming.
There were several security members patrolling the levels and they seemed to be on hand to deal with any issues. But what did catch the eye was that several units were lying vacant.
One woman who we spoke to, Alice Stirling, remembers visiting the Plaza just a few years after it opened in 1974. The 72-year-old has lived in the Calders for over 40 years and says that she has seen the space evolve over the years.
On her experience, she said: “There are definitely less people than there used to be. I don’t know if rents have gone up but you see shops closing or changing hands a lot.
“I used to come all the time for a coffee with friends at Martines café but I struggle a bit with mobility and the lack of options so only come up twice a week. It is very different now.
“There is nowhere to buy clothes. I really liked the Peacocks that recently closed and back in the day there was a lot more choice for customers when it came to clothes - it was fantastic.
“You could spend a lot more time in the centre in the past with the market stalls that used to be on the ground floor. I also remember being able to buy furniture, a good newsagent and fresh fruit and vegetables being sold.
“In Wester Hailes and the Calders it feels as though we have been forgotten. Wester Hailes can be a bit of a dirty word but it is not bad.
“There used to be some drug addicts hanging around but that is what happens when you have a lot of vulnerable youths put in one area with nothing to do and nowhere to go. But I think there are not as many bad people around today.
“It is mostly young mums and older people that come here. The staff are really friendly and always try to help people like myself with mobility issues.”
We also caught up with a young mum of three, Kelly, 33, who visits the centre in the mornings before her kids go to their nursery. She still feels as though the space can be dangerous stating she tries to avoid the Plaza later in the day as she has seen drug users fighting with one another.
On her experience of the Plaza, she said: “We only come through when we are passing after the girls go to nursery. It’s a place we try not to spend too much time in as it is actually quite scary for the kids.
“There are drug users that fight outside all the time. I used to stay locally but thankfully I moved away a number of years ago.
“There used to be so much here but over the years a lot of shops have left and there is not much to do. It is a place we try to avoid due to the type of people that can hang around here.”
However, Tanya, 51, says that the centre offers everything that she needs from a dentist, opticians and food shops. But she did say that shopping at the moment is becoming more unaffordable in the midst of rising costs.
She used to be able to do a weekly shop in Iceland but says that the budget supermarket offers less for a higher price. Now she relies upon Lidl.
Tanya said: “There are actually a lot of choices for food shopping but I predominantly come here for the Lidl. I used to use Iceland but I notice that their prices are becoming too expensive now.
“Personally in the past ten years I haven’t really noticed it change much. Some shops come and go but ultimately it stays the same.
“It’s good there is a dentist and opticians here as that supports the community. In the way of a face lift I’m not really sure what you could do. It does a job for what it is for locals.”
After a stroll around the centre, it was evident that a lot of spaces were lying vacant and the interior did look a touch dated. This has become an ever present sight for many residents across the country that have seen their local shopping centres fade away as the ease of online shopping has meant the death of the high street.
The good news is that it is not all doom and gloom for these traditional spaces that were once the hub of their communities. In a former alcohol shop, a sober Community Wellbeing Space has sprung up at the Plaza.
It is joined by the Sculpture Placement Group who have set up an exhibition through charity Outer Spaces who look to bring different artworks to communities and spaces where they would not traditionally be seen.
These innovative projects are turning what would be empty shops into vital services that breathe much needed life into the area.
We spoke with Mary-Anne, who is a host at the Community Well-being Collective, to see what their new space is all about.
She said: “We opened back in August in what was an alcohol shop before. When we started we went out into the community to speak to residents about the sort of offerings they would like to see.
“Their overwhelming feeling was that they would like somewhere that focuses on community wellbeing. So we are essentially here working for the people and empowering them in all aspects of wellbeing.
“We offer a variety of activities from community lunches on Saturday to offerings that support black and ethnic minority women and even Spanish lessons. On a Sunday we have a soup kitchen that is provided by Empty Kitchens. There is a whole schedule of free activities throughout our opening times on Thursday and Fridays (3-7pm) and Saturday and Sundays (12-7).
“We have found that we have been so welcomed. The space has been designed to cater to the community and those that lead the offerings tend to be locals themselves.
“I think it would be amazing if there were more spaces like ours using vacant units to support local people. It allows for the community to collaborate and rebuild that sense of togetherness that has sadly been lost over time.
“We wanted to create a space where people could come to dream together and feel empowered.”
The Community Wellbeing Centre has been supported by the owners of the Westside Plaza, Edinburgh Art Festival along with multiple local organisations.
You can learn more about what they do via their Instagram here.
READ NEXT:
Teen charged after East Lothian provost is attacked in broad daylight
When will first minister Nicola Sturgeon leave office after resignation announcement
Edinburgh weather: Capital issued with 'danger to life' warning for high winds
Eerie footage inside Midlothian's lost leisure centre shows abandoned family pool
Edinburgh Lewis Capaldi show - when new date goes on sale and ticket prices
