Meeting Thu 26th Feb with Council

Various people from the council greenspaces/parks team came along for a site visit. We discussed insurance, budgets , the visitor levy money coming next year and found a number of quick wins. These are my recollections and not formal minutes or agreements. Everyone in attendance had a can do attitude and very much wanted to work together which was nice.

Stone Planters St John’s Road

We looked at the square stone planters on St John’s Road. They need to get the grills lifted and the council staff discussed between themselves how that might happen. Some compost could be delivered. Can’t have plants with deep roots. Next step is for council to get grills lifted, perhaps just on the two already sponsored.

The circular planter at the top of Manse Road will be harder to deal with and we should leave that just now.

Planters from Corstorphine Connections project

Featherhall Road North

This is a quick win. Can be given a lick of paint and used from now. Water is an issue though?

Planters in Manse Street outside Corstorphine Primary

Another quick win. Compost and flowers could be provided. Planters within school grounds can not be done. Water provision was not discussed.

Carrick Knowe North Shops

These planters can be done now with a little effort. It was noted that there are no liners for the planters so they will rot. There was discussion about different council department and budgets.

Planters in Parks

The thought ius we have a cluster of whisky barrel planters that are bolted together. These are low cost and get us started. The Parks Department and Inch Nursery could provide some funding towards this. We would then have an animal associated.

Hanging Baskets

Businesses can go ahead and do this.

New Street Planters

There was discussion on how we would get funding for this – street planters can be £600. Businesses who put out planters in front of their shops or have some on wheels to move in at night are generally free to do that.

Insurance

Public Liability Insurance was a big thing.

Public realm planters should be covered by council insurance. Volunteers would be given a health and safety briefing on what they can and can not do and make sure no trip hazards etc.

Organisations taking on planters should have their own public liability insurance and should ensure they are covered.

New planters not provided by the council are an insurance issue. Unless an organisation insures them then they are not covered.

Water

We talked about water and the fact businesses’ would provide water access. Parks generally have access to water. But what about public realm planters? We did not cover that.