BridgendFarmhouseOpenPublicMeeting8thJune2010at41OldDalkeithRoad,Edinburgh

Approximately30peopleattendedfromlocalresidentstocommunityandcharitablepartners.

CouncillorBuchannanarrivedandexpressedhisinterestinhearingtheoutcomeofthePublicMeeting.
Hewashappytoworkwithusintakingfeasibleprojectideasforward,thoughwasnotabletostayfor
thedurationofthemeeting.

WillGoldingwelcomedallandgaveaninformativeintroductionoutlining:historicalties,pastattempts
andideasofregeneration,andemergentideasforconsideration.Thepoorconditionofthebuilding
wasoutlinedandthelevelofantisocialbehaviourthatitcurrentlyattracts,andtheimpactthishason
thelocalcommunity.AdditionallyEdinburghCouncil'scurrentpositionwithregardtomaintenanceand
repairwasexplained.

DavidJenkinsfromDunedinSchoolgaveatalkoutliningtheprocessofsettingupanddevelopingthe
LibertonBankProjectfortheacquisitionanddevelopmentofahistoricbuilding,foruseasaprivate
specialistschool.

KeypointsraisedbyDavidJenkins:
1. DefineclearlyatallstagesKEYrelationships.
2. Functionorpurposeofthebuildingneedtobeestablished.
3. Financefundingapplicationscanbecomplexconsideremployingaprofessionalfundraiser.A
combinedapproachpersonalefforts,localcharities,targetspecialisttrustfundsrelevantto
project,BBCChildreninNeedandLotteryallhelpedtofinanceLibertonBankProject(LBP).
Charitiesget80%discountratesonpurchasingbuildings,andmayalsobeexemptfromVATfor
buildingchargesandservices.ThismadeahugedifferenceintermsoffinancialfeasibilityforLBP.
HesuggestedspeakingtoOSCROfficeoftheScottishCharitiesRegulatoraboutthisassettingup
acharitybecomescomplexwithmultipleorganizationsinvolved.
4. Formanexperiencedknowledgebaseofprojectstakeholders:conservationarchitect,Quantity
Surveyor,StructuralEngineers,Lawyer,Plannngconsultant,Accountant,Constructionpeople
InterserveBuildingGroupinvolvedindevelopmentofLBP.
5. Buildphasestenderprocess,materialcosts,andqualityofbuildanticipatedwearandtearof
building,VAT,supervisionofwork,controlofcosts,timescale,penaltyclause/contractandfollow
upwhowillberesponsible?

Groupdiscussionsandproposals:
Ideasputforwardbyemail:
Restorationoffarmhouseandgarden:AlloftheseactivitiescouldattractfundsfromtheCouncil,
communitywoodlandschemes,thealternativestoprisonfunds,thementalhealthservicesandthe
NationalLottery.
CommunitycentrewithoutdoorsthemegivenitsproximitytoBridgendOrganicAllotments,and
CraigmillarWoods,withcafservingteasonthelawn.Hirevenueforfuneralpartiesforthenew
cemetery,orforfamiliesandfriendstolearnabitabouttheplacewheretheirlovedoneisburied.At
theotherendofthespectrum,itcouldbeusedforkid'sbirthdaypartiesonthetheme"Ifyougodown
tothewoodstoday......"
City'sRangerServicebaseandinterpretationcentreexplainingthewildlifeandhistoryofsurrounding
countrysideandsituatedonagreenbelt.Outingsfornewecoschools.
AcommunityfarmwithsmallanimalslikeGorgieFarmrunwiththehelp
ofyoungoffendersservingcommunitysentencesorpeoplewithlearningdifficulties.
Atrainingandeducationcentreforclassesongardening,wildlife,handcrafts,drawingandpainting.
 Group1:Broughtuptheneedtoidentifythedifferentpotentialstakeholdersandfunders.Alsoitwas
repeatedthatthefundamentalquestioniswhetherthebuildingisstructurallysafeandhowmuchit
wouldcosttorepairdamageandgetitupandrunning.
Suggestedregeneratinganddevelopingthepropertyindifferentphases,eachofwhichwouldhavea
differentaimandeachofeachwouldrequireadifferentsourceoffunding.Wehaveidentifiedthe
firstphaseofthisbeingtoformagroup(asmentionedabove)tofindoutthefeasibilityofare
developmentanddrawtogetheraconcreteproposalandfunctiondependingondifferentcriteriaand
possibilities.
PossiblelinkagewithbuildersandconstructorsfromERIwhoareworkingontheBioQuarterjustup
throughCraigmillarCastlePark.
Whocouldthepotentialfundraisersbefortheinitialcapital?ItwasquestionedwhethertheNational
Lotterywouldbeinterestedconsideringthattheyinitiallyfundedthepurchaseofthespaceandalso
fundedlastyearsfeasibilitystudydonebyCooperandCromar.
Acommunityusespacewouldbemostwantedandneedednotacommunitycentre,butrathera
HealthandWellBeingCentre,i.e.couldtieinwithlocalprojectsfocusingonhealthandin
connectionwithlocalmedicalcentresliketheRoyalInfirmaryandCraigmillarMedicalPractice.

Group2:Broughtupthepossibilitiesforitbeingastrongsocialenterprisethatwouldaimtotryto
selfsustainitselffinanciallythroughproducingandsellingproduceatlarge.
SouthEdinburghFarmers/CraftsMarket,Caf,Microbrewery,andactingasanoutreachvenueand
siteformanyenvironmentallyfocusedprojectsandorganisationsinthecity.
Outdoorslearningcentre,focusedtowardsallagegroupsnotinemploymentfocusingonecology,
environmentalawarenessandsustainabilityandfitinwithgovernmentobjectivesaround
environmentalawarenessandthenewgovernmentcurriculumforexcellenceoutdoorseducationin
schools.

Group3:Thisgroupidentifiedtheneedtobeawareofthebuildingshistoricuses,andtowork
stronglytowardsrenovatingandprotectingthefarmhouseratherthanlookingtorebuilditor
demolishanyofit.Picturesofitinitsformerworkingstatefrom10yearsagowereshownandthe
followingdegradationanddisrepair.Thisincludedtheattentionandconcernofthepreviousowners,
andalsothebrotherandcousinoftheownersbeforethem.Theyalsomentionedthelocalresidents
concernthatanyplanningproposalshouldnotalter,orshouldincorporatetheplans,alreadylaidout
andapprovedbythecouncil,forresidentsparkinginthespacewherethefarmhousecottageusedto
be.

Group4:Anydevelopmentwouldbewelcomed,particularlyonewithacommunityfocusanduse.
HoweveritwouldbeveryimportanttomaintaindialoguewiththeBridgendCottagesAssociationand
tobearinmindtheimpactofanyfurtherdevelopmentuponthemparticularlyimpactofwaterrunoff
fromdrainsonlocalcottages/homesmustbeconsideredinanyproposal.

Group5:Suggestionsincorporatededucationalbenefits,commercialoptionsandsocialenterprise.
Centreprovidingclasses,workshopsandcoursesinruralcraftsandsustainabletechnology,andcould
linkinwiththerisingTransitionTownmovementandrevivalofenvironmentallyfriendlyand
traditionalactivitiesandskills
B&B
Respitefacilityforyoungadults(1830)withlearningdifficulties.Aspartoftherespitedaycare
provisionthecentrecouldlinkwithBACHIPandEnableneighboringcharitiestoBridgend
Farmhouse.Sustainabilityandfundingoptions:Council/SocialWorkDeptaspartofaservice
provisionpackageorbyDirectPaymentsschemecurrentlybeingimplementedandadoptedby
Carers/ServiceUsers.
Nextstages:
Itwasdecidedtheminutesofoutcomeofthemeetingwouldbesenttoallwhoattendedandthose
whointendedtobutcouldnotmakeit.Fromthiswewouldlookforaresponseofthosewhowould
wanttobepartofformingaBridgendcommunityassociationtorepresenttheseviewsandlookinto
whatthelimitationsandcriteriatherewouldbefordevelopment,andlookingforpeopletoadda
certainelementofexperienceorknowledgetothatthatcouldhelpintakingthatforward.Ameeting
wouldbearrangedforthis(tobeatInchParkCommunityCentre)afterreceivingresponses.

Oncethisgroupisestablishedwithwouldliketoformasteeringgroupwithotherinterested
organisations,councilmembersandfundersthatcouldbeapartoftheredevelopmentoftheproperty
anddecideonthenextstepsandthedifferentphasesthatwouldbeinvolved.Importantconcerns
mentionedingeneraldiscussion(inslightlymoredetail):

Theneedtohaveaclearfocusandtofindorganisationalandpoliticalbackingandinforming
partnershipswithboththeCraigmillarandGilmertonwards.
PossibilityofapproachingtheLittleFranceWorkinggroupabouttieingintheirworkwitha
developmentofthepropertyhereaspartoftheirsocialresponsibility.Thiswouldtieinwithcouncil
objectivesandtheagendaforthesurroundingarea,andhelpwithcostingsandexpertise.Fromthis
perspectivewhatisneededissomemorediscussionsandsuggestionsinregardstoproperty
developmentandlocalpropertydeveloperscouldassistwiththisproject.Thiscouldhelpcombinewith
localbuildersandbuildingwork.
Rok(constructionandbuilders)havealsoshowninterestintheprojectassomethingtheywouldlook
tosupportitsreconstructionof,andtohelpprovidesomeoftheirapprenticesandyoungprofessionals
withagoodopportunity.

Theneedtohaveagoodsmallcoregroupofinterestedindividualswithdifferentexperiencetoforman
officialgrouporassociationtotakeondifferenttasksandareasofresearchtoworkonfindingoutthe
feasibilityofdifferentoptionsofredevelopingthepropertyandtoraisesupportandawareness,and
potentiallyapplyforfunding.

ItwasmentionedthatthefeasibilitystudydonebyCooperandCromarshouldactasthebasic
frameworkweusetoworkfromandtweakalittlesothatwecanharnessthatworkandmoneyspent
toavoidreplicating,andbuildonwhathasgonebefore.

Peoplequestionedwhethertherewasanypossibilityofthebuildingbecominglistedorbeinggiven
particularattentionforitshistoricinterest(Iunderstandfromtheconservationteamatthecouncilthat
thisisnotthecaseandworkwillonlybedonetoconserveitifitisadangertothepublic,inwhich
caseitwillbedemolished,orifitisalistedbuildingandneedstobekeptwaterandwindtight).